Endlessly (Paranormalcy)

This is a fantastic story line for young Teens right through to Adults.

Keeps you intrigued and wanting to turn the next page.

Following Evie as she grows is amazing.

Thank you Kiersten.

After reading the three books, and traveling along with Evi on her adventure I couldn't ask for a better ending! I will always remember Evi, Lend, Reth, Vivian, Jack, Ariana, Raquel, David, Carlee, etc. "It is never really over, just a new start." <3

This book is thrilling, Romantic and Scary all at once! I couldn't put my kindle down to stop reading! I rated it 5 stars for all of those reasons.... Lend has Evie's heart but in a way, Reth stole mine

Imagine the ancient Egyptian gods are still around and have mortal children. That's the opening premise of Kiersten White's new novel. Isadora is the 16 year old daughter of Isis and Osiris and has been raised in a hidden community of gods and goddesses in Egypt. Now, she's ready to get out.

Luckily for her, Isis has been having troubling dreams that indicate danger coming for the family. With a little outside persuasion, she decides to send Isadora to live with the brother that is closest to her in age in San Diego for the summer. There, she finally makes some friends her own age, including the impossibly dreamy Ry--he of the gorgeous blue eyes.

But, of course, trouble follows Isadora to the other side of the world, and in the end she and Ry have to come to the rescue of her family back in Egypt.

That's the structure of the plot, and it's really well done. However, the thing I always love most about any novel, and especially Kiersten's books, are the characters. What's the character motivation behind what's going on in the plot?

For the first 13 years of her life, Isadora thought she was immortal just like her parents and half brothers and sisters. She got a rude awakening when they cremated her cat for her to keep in the room that would eventually become her tomb.

Every teen has a moment when they realize their parents, or their relationship with their parents, isn't what they thought it would be. We might not discover our parents have had us decorating our own tombs for our whole lives, but something happens that changes the way we view them. How we deal with the new reality shapes who we will be as adults. The background story in Chaos of Stars is really about Isadora deciding who she wants to be, in light of the fact that she's actually mortal.

Ry plays a huge role in her realizing she doesn't want to close herself off from the world. I'd love to tell you more about who he is, but there's a secret there that's best discovered at the same time Isadora learns it. Suffice to say, just like she did with Lend in the Paranormalcy series, White has created a hero worthy of her heroine.

On a humorous note--and there is always a humorous note in a book by Kiersten White--my favorite part of the book were the introductions to each chapter, explaining a bit of Egyptian mythology. They were written in Isadora's voice, and they were always hilarious.

I highly recommend this for anyone looking for either YA fantasy with mythology, or a good teen girl coming of age story.

This book got great reviews, I wondered if I read something different. Main character is a brat, hard to have sympathy. While the Egyptian mythology was interesting, it wasn't enough to make this book a good read. Found it boring and tedious to get through. The characters were one dimensional. I want my $9 back :(

Actual Rating: 3.5

MY REVIEW:

This is another e-arc that I have had for since last year. But since one of my blogging resolutions is to get through atleast 100 arcs that I have recieved from Netgalley and Edelweiss. I decided to pick this one up because it was very different from any premise that I have ever read. As I am always looking for originality and something that would catch and keep my attention. At the same time I was worried about starting this, due to the fact that some reviewers whose opinions I usually agree with had given this book was negative comments. But alas as I am my own person, I chose to put those comments behind and give this book a chance.

The story is about a young girl whose parents happent to be Egyptian Gods who are immortal. Since her parents are immortal Isadora had always believed that she too would live forever. When she finds out that, she will eventually die she starts holding an unfounded grudge against her parents, specially her mother.

Isadora's mother Isis, starts seeing dreams about danger attacked their home, and as a precaution decides it would be best to send Isadora to live with her brother is San Diego. Isadora is extremly happy, since she has been wanting to leave her family in Egypt for a long time.

Things are not exactly what she planned for them to be once she gets to San Diego, as her unknowing to Isadora, her brother is married with a baby on the way. Isadora a tad bit spoiled has an issue with sharing her brother's affection. To top it off, her mother has set her up with a job at the local museum where she will be overseeing the set up of a new exhibit based on artifacts that her mother will be sending over.

As she starts school she becomes befriends a girl named Tyler who introduces her to a boy named Ry. Isadora finds herself immediately attracted to Ry, but is scared to allow herself to fall for him, as she feels that love is pointless since it can not be forever.

In addition to her social life Isadora still continues to have bad dreams, and they all end up the same: with her mother disapearing. As time goes on and she starts to realize that her perceptions of her mother has been wrong. She realizes that she most stop who or what ever is threatening her family. When the threat comes to San Diego and threatens Isadora, her friends specially Ry will come to her rescue. But there is more to Ry than Isadora knows. Will they be able to save Isadora's family? Will Isadora accept Ry's true background or will the knowledge keep them apart?

I have to admit that I too, like other reviewers struggled with Isadora's immaturity and selfishness. But I was happy to see her evolve and mature over time. The story is was kept me engaged to continue reading. I remember when I only had 80 pages to go saying to my friend Patricia, that OMG there is only 80 pages let, but thre are so many unanswered questions. But Kiersten White did a great job typing everything up in those last 80 pages. All in all, yes this book does have its issues, but if you get past them you will find a story that is very enjoyable.

And we have come to the conclusion of the series. A series I started 7 years ago and have only finished it just now. Heh. Hehe...

Everyone is trying to convince Evie to open the gates to allow the paranormals to go through. For one, I am so glad we learned more about these said gates because ever since they were mentioned in the first book they had me confused af! I definitely found them to be an interesting concept, especially when it pertains to all the paranormals.

So, yeah. They want Evie to open these gates, but Evie is unsure whether she can do it. Yeah, that’s fine. My issue with Evie in this book is that she doesn’t want to open the gates. Period! I get that she’s felt like she’s always being used, but come one, girl! Doing this would literally solve all her issues with the paranormals! She was being so selfish and it was frustrating!

Speaking of frustrating, Reth. I disliked Reth so much in the last two books, you don’t even know. He was just such a creeper and very stalkery and just—I didn’t like him! But, um, guess what? I actually really liked him in this book! I *loved* Reth! Yeah, I’m surprised too. Lol. But we finally understand his motivations and his reasons for doing the things he’s done.

Another person I love: Lend! In this book someone places a curse on him that makes him fall asleep when Evie walks into the room a la narcolepsy. It was pretty funny but also kind of sad at the same time. Lol. And also frustrating. Why? Because between all of them, they could not figure out who cursed him when it was so blindingly obvious who did it! I knew as soon as it happened. No, literally. I knew the precise moment the curse was placed. I was thinking to myself, “Ohhh, this person just did something to Lend.” I don’t know how they didn’t see it. It was SO obvious! Evie knows how this person is. Ugh! And also, the purpose of this curse seemed kind of pointless. Like, if you took it out of the book I don’t think it would impact it very much. Now that I think about it, this book felt like it had quite a bit of padding. Things dragggggged. Ugh.

Then we got the climax followed by an abrupt end. Wtf! Granted things did get wrapped up, but some pretty big things go down! I’d at least like to see the falling action, as they call it in English class.

But I did like the book, don’t get me wrong. One of my favorite things is how funny it is!

---
Arianna lounged against the counter, and when I finished first we debated the usage rules of “dude,” “true dat,” and my favorite, “for serious.”
“I kind of wish they’d shut up,” Jack said.
“Dude, true dat,” Lend answered.
Jack nodded solemnly. “For serious.”
---

What even...? Lol. It was very fun indeed. I did have high expectation for this series because I loved the first book so much, and while it didn’t exactly meet my expectations, I still really enjoyed it! I love the characters—Lend and Evie are so cute together! Paranormalcy had a very interesting world, one I’m sure to miss. But I am so glad I finally got around to finishing off the series and seeing how things wrapped up. It was a good conclusion overall.

Actual rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Recommend: Yeah
I love Kiersten White and this one has been on my TBR list for a while, so I jumped right in and finished it in about a day.
I love how the plot weaves myth with reality in a way that feels real. I love Isadora's strength and spunk, she is definitely one of those female characters who doesn't need to be rescued, can take care of herself, and is smart and driven, which is wonderful.
Seriously, Isadora isn't about to let anyone save her because she believes she is strong enough yo save herself, but this story isn't about her needing saving. This story is about love, and not between Isadora and Ry. No, what I love about this story is how the main focus is on family, on how just because one doesn't feel loved, doesn't mean they aren't. This story is about Isadora realizing that the great thing about not being immortal is that we get to experience everyday as if it were our last, that we get to have things end because then new things can begin. This story is about Isadora realizing what love is, how many different types there are, and that the greatest, truest love is that which is selfless.
The plot is quick, flows nicely, and has lots of detail. I love the dream sequences between some of the chapters and how the chapters start with information on the gods along with Isadora's insider information on them and the inside look at her family.
I love how the story ended in a funny, realistic way that left what happens next up to the reader, but also kind of gives the impression that everything is going to be okay, no matter what.
The reason this isn't a five star read is because the romance was too predictable and obvious. I mean, I wish there would have been more of a build up to who her love interest is, but I do appreciate how it wasn't love at first sight...for Isadora anyway.
All in all, this was a fun, easy read that I flew through and deepens my love for White's writing.

Love this book! I loved Kiersten's Paranormalcy series, so I just had to read this. When I started the book, I was questioning if I would finish it. The start was slow for me, then it picked up. When the middle came, certain scenes bored me a little. Though it was only about 3 or 4 scenes. Other than that, I loved the book. The book kept my interest and the ending was SO GOOD.

Isadora is Egyptian who thinks she will live forever. One day she realizes her room is to be her tomb. Only her parent's are immortal. Her mother has power and is immortal, and was the one to make her husband immortal by bringing him back from the dead. Isis has healing powers and the god of childbirth, and her husband is the king of the dead. How strong is her power? Well she got the TRUE name of the sun god. That is something you tell NO ONE. Now with the name she can give Horus power and ability to take over.

Isadora doesn't feel like she fits in anymore. When she was younger she had a good relationship with them. Days by the Nile with her mother, and visiting her dad in the other world, where sometimes she sees souls coming through and being judged. Because if your soul is good, you move on. If your soul isn't true, it gets eaten by this chick with an alligator mouth. Those where the good days.

Now Isadora is older and just likes being on her own, because she thinks, she ins't loved enough, because she will die. Though all things die, at some point. Right now things are okay at the house, until one day her mother brings up two things, that Isadora is not pleased about. Her mother is having a baby in two months, and brings up dreams and how they are powerful and can mean things.

Well Isadora is having dreams, but won't say anything about them. Eventually it leads to Isadora being sent to her brothers place in San Diego for her safety. At her arrival she finds out her brother is married and that his wife is also expecting a baby within two months or so. Yep, Isadora is just having a blast right now.

After settling into the house, she is told that she has a job at the museum. Her mother arranged this and is having her watch over the exhibit that she is sending over. Isadora isn't happy about, though eventually she learns to love it. She makes good friends, ends up falling for a guy who just happens to have parents who are also gods. Though won't say what kind. Just when she thinks everything is going good, Anubis shows up and ruins everything. He basically reveals a plan that he and someone are going to hurt her mother.

Well what to do but go and save her! I'll keep the ending to myself and have you all figure it out for yourself. I really enjoyed the ending! It was all very intense and very addicting! I give this book 5 stars.

In Supernaturally Evie discovered just how embedded she was in the affairs of the paranormal. Nothing has changed. In Endlessly, Evie is faced with one problem right after another, and sometimes even multiple problems at once. Can't a girl catch a break?

I enjoyed this novel, however, for me it didn't quite live up to its predecessor. Don't get me wrong though, it is a great one, but just not my favorite. I think Evie was reading my mind throughout the story. She kept whining about "why me" and "what now?" I assure you that I'm not exaggerating about the whole one problem right after another. As soon as you think that nothing else can go wrong, be assured that it will.

Despite the treacherous bumpy road that Evie was forced to walk, things did get better. Raquel even had this great quote about how great things can emerge from chaos. This was certainly true for Evie, and I couldn't have said it better myself.

Ms. White did a fantastic job on this series! I still can't believe that it took me this long to read all three! This was a great Buffy-esque series. It was full of romance, forgiveness, growth, and as always some butt-kicking action!

Originally appears on happyindulgencebooks.com

The Chaos of the Stars is a book that I really wanted to love, but sadly didn’t. It is set in Egypt which is pretty much my favourite dream destination ever, and features Egyptian gods and goddesses, with the main character, Isadora as a daughter of Isis and Osiris. Unfortunately, something about the light, quirky re-imagining of the gods and goddesses just didn’t sit well with me.

I really enjoyed the beginning where Isadora pretty much describes her weird and wonderful godly family and their quirks. However I was already cringing a few pages in as she refers to her brother Horus as “Whore-us” throughout the novel and wife Hathor as “his drunken floozy of a wife”. There’s just some places you don’t go when it comes to gods and goddesses but nope, she went there.

I have read and loved Kiersten White’s other series, Paranormalcy, and really enjoyed the bright pink-loving Evie with all of her spark, quirkiness and hilarious wit. Unfortunately, Isadora pretty much walked and talked like Evie, save for her eternal angst and dark thoughts against her parents and family. She would be completely bitter at one time and then a happy go lucky light-hearted joker the next. It was a weird combination that didn’t quite fit. I didn’t see where all the hate came from especially since her parents didn’t really do anything against her except to fall pregnant with their next child. I’m glad to report that Isadora does come around eventually though.

To my dismay, the intriguing Egyptian setting soon gets replaced with stereotypical setting of America. Isadora promptly jet sets to San Diego and does the usual thing like fall into insta-love with Ry, and then it becomes a poorly developed, soppy romance, none of all of that initial intrigue and wonder I had with it.

Between every chapter, there’s a description of Isadora’s dreams (or what I think are her dreams or her random thoughts) as well as some mythology. I liked reading these segments, but there was no explanation or significance to the chapters. I didn’t quite see their place and wish they sort of tied in some way. While the rest of the book is filled with light drivel of no particular substance, without these segments to keep me going I would have probably abandoned the book.

The Chaos of Stars is a really light book that adds a fresh unique and humorous personalities to Egyptian gods and goddesses, but unfortunately I felt like the book was filled with drivel of no substance. I wanted more mythology and less insta-love and not the run of the mill US setting. It is a coming of age novel with humour and angst, but I wouldn’t read it for the Egyptian mythology alone, especially since it was applied with such a light hand.

The cover is beautiful though and I’m glad it’s a standalone.

Originally reviewed at: http://www.shaelit.com/2013/08/review-the-chaos-of-stars-by-kiersten-white/

The beginning, while lovely, was confusing. It’s a very confusing feeling to be so comfortable in a setting and yet utterly lost as to where or even when I was. I felt like Andre Dawson in that State Farm commercial.

Let me sneak in and unravel things for you, so you won’t get hung up in the beginning like I did. Isadora is the mortal daughter of Osiris and Isis, Egyptian gods from ancient times. They’re pretty much the head honchos and have been ever since Isis stole power from Amun-Re, the sun god. They, along with several other divine members of Isadora’s family, live in an invisible temple(?) in modern-day Egypt. I think. The modern-day part is nailed down, but Isadora doesn’t spend a lot of time describing her home. I know it has a throne room/judgement room for her father, Isadora’s room, a modern kitchen (that she designed), and Isadora’s future tomb. You don’t really need to know more than that, so don’t worry about it.

From the beginning, I liked Isadora. I connected with her. Sure, my parents aren’t gods (insert your own joke here, Mom). My dad isn’t king of the Underworld. My mom doesn’t have a new kid every twenty years like clockwork. My half-brother isn’t a jackal-headed creep. And I don’t have to struggle with the fact that everyone I know and love seems content to continue on in their immortality without me. While I think everyone knows what it feels like to be neglected at some point, I connected with Isadora on a much smaller, more personal level. Her favorite constellation is Orion (mine too!), and her mother often tells her to be “quick as a bunny,” a phrase Isadora and I both LOATHE. It’s not a big, meaningful connection, but it was all I needed.

Isadora is fiery and sharp-tongued, a byproduct of the anger and hurt she’s been carrying for the last three years. I suppose it’s possible that some readers will find her annoying, but I never did. It’s one thing for a normal teen to have an attitude against her parents, but when the parents in question are powerful, ancient deities, the corresponding ‘tude is bound to be outsized to make an impact. Isadora can’t stand being at home, surrounded by family members who can’t be bothered to make her immortal or even learn her name. (Her mother has a bad habit of naming all children with a variation of either her or Osiris’ name, which makes it hard to keep track.)

When her mother announces that she’s pregnant with Isadora’s replacement four years ahead of schedule, Isadora pushes for the chance to leave Egypt for good. Recent dreams of danger push Isis to agree, and Isadora is sent to San Diego to live with her fully mortal brother, Sirius. She doesn’t find out until she gets there that 1) Sirius married without telling her, and 2) Isis has arranged for Isadora to work at a local museum where a shipment of Egyptian antiquities are to arrive (provided by Isadora’s mysterious and obscenely wealthy parents, of course.)

Neither development thrills Isadora, nor is she pleased to meet Ry, a preoccupied poet with unbelievably gorgeous blue eyes. Sure, he’s cute (incredibly so), but Isadora has rules against getting too close to people. People die. Relationships break apart. Why bother to create anything when they’re doomed to end? But of course Ry is the one who is the most help when someone starts to target Isadora. And Ry has secrets of his own. (Because what boy with unearthly blue eyes and a penchant for poetry doesn’t?)

Yes, the majority of the plot is predictable. There’s the normal teenage angst and family crises (albeit covered in the unique wrapping of gods and goddesses), the normal nice-but-pushy new friends, the normal hot boy, the normal wisecracking protagonist. Ms. White does not color outside the lines in this book. However, one does not need to color outside the lines to be vibrant and enjoyable inside them.

Chaos was light and cute and so very fun to read. I love the way Ms. White brought the various Egyptian deities to life. Each chapter started with a snippet of Egyptian mythology, usually capped with a snarky comment straight from Blue’s mouth. It was strange and wonderful to revisit the ancient tales with the understanding of the key players’ own blood relative. It’s one thing to read about Isis’ sister disguising herself to sleep with Osiris. It’s another to read how your aunt tricked your own dad to sleep with her so she could give birth to your half-brother. It’s safe to say that storytime at Isadora’s house could get a little tense.

I also squealed when another element of mythology was introduced halfway through the book. I can’t say what it was, though it should be fairly obvious to observant readers. All I can say is that I thought it rocked and that I’d love to read another book within this universe Ms. White has created that deals with Isadora’s ever-expanding world.

I only had a few issues. First, I don’t completely understand why Isadora’s parents needed her rememberance. Surely one person isn’t enough to keep them alive. And even if that were true, what about the museums all around the world that help people remember Isis and Osiris? If remembering a deity is what keeps them going, wouldn’t the exhibits and books and articles and scholarly papers be enough? Also, I thought the characterization was a bit light. While I enjoyed the various characters, I thought they could have used a little more substance to keep them from becoming caricatures.

Despite its flaws, I am pleased to have read this book. Though the end ties up neatly, I would gladly return for a sequel. Any excuse to visit Isadora’s and Ry’s families would be a joy. And now, I must dance.

Points Added For: Mythology(!), Thoth, being so deliciously fun, Isadora’s talent in interior decorating (how unique!).

Points Subtracted For: Shaky world-building, Ry’s blue eyes being mentioned a MILLION times, sketchy characters.

Good For Fans Of: Mythology, family drama, decorating and color schemes.

Notes For Parents: Light language (I think only one or two instances), family drama, murder, adultery.

Note: I received a digital ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I love Kiersten White's writing as always. Love Evie's wit and humor. And, bleep, if I didn't fall in love with a faerie! My poor little heart is broken over the end of the trilogy. I'm going to get a hardback version of this when it comes out to add to my collection of Paranormalcy books. It's a keeper.

I've read a lot of books with great humor recently, but Endlessly has reminded me that there is no one out there like Kiersten White. I bleeping love Evie's snarky remarks and retorts and eye rolling. While she may have been created as an Empty One to right the faerie's wrong, she has grown into a strong young woman in her own right, proving that she can make decisions for herself. They may not always be the best in hindsight, but she does what she can. She's a bright little package of sparks with a big heart filled with love.

The character that most moved my heart, however, was Reth. He wasn't my favorite character in book one, but he's been opening up more since book two. Halfway through Endlessly, I fell in love with him. I still like Lend and think he's better for Evie since he accepts her for who she is and doesn't try to manipulate her or change her, but he's been absent since book two while Reth is there in the heart of the plot. Plus, the banter he exchanges with Evie! They're downright amusing. I can share much about him without giving away spoilers, but know that I love him despite his faerie, plotting heart. He is able to love and feel in his own faerie way.

I will bleeping miss Evie and all her paranormal friends and foes. Since leaving IPCA, she's met so many people and finally found her place in the world. To have her peace threatened by supernatural creatures insisting that they need her to save them? That sucks. Big time. Through it all, however, Evie never ceased to keep me laughing. She's one of my favorite YA heroines. She has such a big heart and great sense of humor, not to mention amazing friends (who I seriously want to steal from her but won't because she'll come after me and tase me).

The stakes are higher than ever, and the fate of the paranormal world rests in Evie's hands. Favorite characters return from Arianna to Vivian to Jack. And Reth and Lend and Raquel and smelly unicorns. The list keeps going on. This book is a keeper. If you don't already own the first two books, go out there and buy them and read, and then preorder your copy of Endlessly (or buy it when it hits shelves).

Source: Received an e-ARC through Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

Having read every other title from White, of course I was going to read her latest. For some reason I keep wanting the title to be The Chaos of THE Stars-has anyone else made this slip?

Isadora is literally the daughter of gods-Egyptian gods that is; Isis and Osiris to be specific. As just another in a long line of children, she finds herself fed up with these gods and grasps at the chance for a "normal" life in America with other mortals like the gorgeous writer Ry. But no matter how far she goes, she can't escape family.

This book was a very mixed bag for me with some elements I really enjoyed and some that I felt were not utilized very well. We'll start with the positive, which was the take on Egyptian mythology. I have not read many books centered on Egypt at all so it was cool to get a brief introduction to some of the gods and goddesses. I by no means consider this a definitive interpretation but I appreciated it. Each chapter opens with a little snippet of Egyptian mythology focused on these gods, which felt very informative. Another bonus is that this seems to be a standalone though there is room to explore the world more especially through the character Ry.

As White shares in her author's note at the end, she wanted to look at what it is like when you realize your parents aren't perfect, which is well-represented in Isadora's angst throughout the book. Her story also follows her coming to terms with her own mortality. Though her parents are gods who will endure forever, she and her siblings must face death and Isadora initially finds that incredibly unfair and it plays a huge role in her resentment toward them especially toward her mother.

As usual, I found White's writing very chatty, casual, and easy to read. However while I enjoyed reading this, I also felt that for rather a long stretch of time, nothing much seems to be happening. Yes, Isadora is meeting some new people (including a boy) and learning more about herself but I felt like all the action was packed into just a few chapters at the end instead of well-paced throughout.

Well, and just in general, I don't find myself very enthusiastic about it. Did I adore the California setting? Very much. Did I think there was a neat premise? Yes. Did anything really stick out as something I hated? No. But was there anything that will keep this book firmly in my heart and memory? I don't think so. Still a nice lightweight book when you just need something fun!

Cover: Gorgeous! White has been very fortunate with covers and the stars are very appropriate!

Kiersten White creates such fun worlds and characters. The Chaos of Stars first drew me in because it deals with Egyptian mythology. This isn't an area I'm particularly knowledgeable in, but I have not encountered Egyptian mythology in Young Adult lit. I think she did a good job of picking something that had the potential to be entirely original.

Isadora has a rocky relationship with her mom Isis, but that's probably because she's a goddess while Isadora is stuck being mortal. Isadora is eager to begin a life away from her ethereal family in Egypt. After her mom surprises her with big news, Isadora is anything but excited. She is also experiencing strange dreams filled with dark shadows. Isis sends Isadora to live with her brother, Sirus. Even though Isadora is in San Diego while her mother is in Egypt she somehow finds a way to control Isadora's life. But that's how she meets Tyler (a spunky, and hilarious girl that hits it off really well with Isadora) and Ry (who is beautiful blue eyes that Isadora finds dangerous to be around).

White does a great job of making Isadora into a character I've never encountered before, but she still felt familiar. She wanted to stand up for herself, and work hard at everything in her life even trying to get away from her mother. She struggles being away from Egypt, because now that she's by herself she can finally be in the spotlight and it unnerves her. But I feel that any teenager would feel that way.

Isadora's friends are friends that I would love to have. They are fun, and they care deeply for Isadora. They weren't overly perfect in the friend department, because they too had struggles of their own, but White did a good job of making them into people I'd like to meet.

The whole cast of characters (besides Isadora and co.) are wonderfully vibrant, and White does a great job of bringing Egyptian theology to life. Plus, there are the twists and turns that I never saw coming which only added to the story.

Any YA fan, or a fan of mythology will enjoy The Chaos of Stars!

Review by: Sarah Dizon

Disclosure: Review copy from the publisher for an honest review.

Paranormalcy was one of the first two series I was in love with when I first started my blog. I just couldn't get over how much I loved the characters and the writing. I even met Kiersten White one time (and yes, she's just as cool in person as you'd think she would be!). I quickly read the second book as soon as could get my hands on it. But I've been holding off on this third one. Why? I just didn't want to give it up. I didn't want the series to end. (and yet in a way, that hurt me because it's been almost 4 years since I've read the second book in the series and while I remember loving it, I don't quite remember the details. Oops!)

Anyways, I quickly fell in love with Evie again. I just love her spunk and way of talking and thinking. And yup, I still loved how she said "bleep" all of the time. I even loved the secondary characters like Lend and Reth and Jack. I did get confused with some of the talk about the different worlds and creatures. But in the end, I found myself getting just little bit teary. It all wrapped up so nicely and just how I'd want it to but there was just a touch of sadness to it. I was happy with how it ended yet sad because it was over. It was completely bittersweet.

(And side note, once again the cover is absolutely gorgeous. I would give my right arm for any of the dresses that is on the cover of these books!!)

It's interesting to read a mythology book that isn't centered on the Greek or Norse gods/legends/etc. The Chaos of the Stars gives an insight to the different gods there are in the Egyptian mythology and well, they're still incestuous/vain/power-hungry but insanely entertaining. Who knew that the Egyptians had that much drama in their lives too? It's like watching a Latin soap opera minus the Latin and the actually watching of the show. It all ties back to the family, you know?

Isadora gives a whole new meaning to having family issues. Like, seriously. Isadora is a likable character but her inherent need to be introverted and not let anyone in sort of blocks her appeal. I feel bad for her because she had to go through all that, and add in the fact that she's the only mortal in her family, she's got it pretty rough. She always feels like she's expendable and that her family will one day abandon her when there's a new child and I understand where the insecurity is coming from but I highly doubt her parents will leave her for dead. I think it's all about communication; that's the only way for her and her family to be able to properly convey what they feel and think. Other than the familial issues thing, Isadora's a pretty cool gal. She's an awesome interior designer and her designs sound amazing. It was interesting reading about her stay in the United States because I can just say, culture shock x100!! Her interactions with the people and her need to try to be normal was really cute. I also loved Isadora's wittisms and her love for the stars. It was pretty sweet.

Oh. My. Gosh. RY. RY. RY. He is such a sweeeeeeeet guy. I love that he writes poems and that even though he's insanely good looking and swoony, he's modest about it... okay, maybe not too modest. Haha! But yeah, Ry is a great guy (book boyfriend material) because with him, less is more. He doesn't say much but when he does, it's like a burst of sunshine and happiness... for me, that is. I actually felt really sorry for him because right from the get-go, Isadora friend-zoned him. Yes, she went there. It's mostly because she doesn't believe in love and everyone in her life is going to betray/abandon her so she told him they couldn't be more than friends... Ouch. (It's okay, Ry, I'm single!!) But everything is not what is seems, I don't know if you'll notice it but I did so I won't mention it but you'll know what it is when you see it. I am not being vague at all. *flies away*

There were literally times when I couldn't figure things out and I was left thinking, "Whuuuuut". It's good that there were unpredictable moments to battle out the parts that were sort of predictable because that just makes things more exciting. I loved that Kiersten White included Isadora's dreams because it really gave us an insight as to what might happen and they act as both a hint and a curveball. It all depends on what you make of it. Good luck, friends!

The Chaos of the Stars shines with classic Kiersten White humor and wittiness that will draw not only entice you to keep reading but will also get you to join in on the laughter. While the romance aspect of the book was pretty evident, it was great that it was not the main focus of the story. The book was still mainly about the premonitions Isadora and her mom were having that will lead to something insanely crazy and exciting in the latter part of the book. Trust me, you will not see it. Unless you do... #Awkward I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I can't wait for more of Kiersten White's books.

Rating: 4/5

Official blog post: [...]

I didn't have a great introduction with Kiersten White's book: I had read Mind Games earlier this year and to say I was less than thrilled may have been a bit of an understatement. Despite that when I seen the cover for The Chaos of Stars I was instantly drawn to it and reading the synopsis, even more so, so I had decided to give this one a chance.

Firstly, the main character Isadora is by far one of the most angst filled teenagers I have ever seen. This girl was a complainer! She was also super cynical and her views on romance/love were nothing short of depressing. I didn't fall in love with Isadora straight away, and in fact her angsty attitude made it difficult to read and get into the story at first. Further into the story, when Isadora started to open up slightly, I did enjoy her more, but I can honestly say I didn't love her upon finishing. I thoroughly enjoyed her family though. Isis, Sirus, Deena... I just loved them. They were warm, loving and due to the God thing, super interesting! Tyler, Scott & Ry were fantastic as well. I've always been a huge supporter in secondary characters and Tyler is high up on my list. She counteracted Isadora's negativity and pushed her to do things out of her comfort zone. And then we have Ry... I loved him, instantly. Yes you heard it here first, instalove. For the reader. He was very unique as a love interest and I enjoyed that. Plus he was super hot, drove an awesome truck and wrote poetry!

The story was unique and very interesting. I've knew nothing about Egyptian mythology going into The Chaos of Stars but the way Kiersten White presented the Gods and their stories was fantastic. I expected a lot of info dumping because a lot of mythology is complex but White found a way to explain the stories without overwhelming the reader. I actually came away from the story knowing quite a bit about Egyptian myths and I'm very interested in finding something else about it. I loved that Isadora was the human daughter to Gods, it added another element to the story because she was wholly different from her parents.

The plot was slightly predictable, although that did not take away the enjoyment for me. There were a few surprises at the ending that I didn't expect though! Kiersten White's writing style for The Chaos of Stars was fantastic. I loved that almost every chapter had one of Isadora's dreams or a memory from her past that had a mythological story or explanation. Both of those elements really played a part in the story plus it spiced up Isadora's present day story as well.

All in all, I would definitely recommend The Chaos of Stars. It was a very enjoyable read and Isadora's story left me wanting to read more. If you love mythology I would give this a try!

*I received this book for review from the publisher*

I received a copy via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review!

The Chaos of Stars by Kiersten White is a wonderful surprise! Intriguing and immediately fascinating from the beginning, White's young adult novel is an awesome change-up from her Mind Games series, which I found to be a hot mess. The storytelling in The Chaos of Stars is original in its context and the mystery is addicting. White's latest is full of mythology that has barely been explored in young adult literature, and her great pacing, magical characters, and ability to make something unusual for a reader seem completely relatable makes this a must-read for fans of mythology.

Isadora, the protagonist, is the human daughter of egyptian gods, and while her life is proven to be less than average, her quirkiness and wit makes her immediately lovable. She's gorgeous, thanks to her beautiful mother, but she isn't obvious about it. She doesn't see herself as perfect, and while her parents aren't conventional, she is still relatable. Like a normal human, she has to deal with love, the need to belong, being true to what she loves, and feeling less than adequate.

The beauty of the novel, however, comes not from the powerful protagonist, but from the unique storyline. Rather than explore the cliched mythology that is now rampant in young adult literature, White offers a completely different world. She introduces her readers to Egyptian Gods that have been put to the side in favour of Greek and Roman mythology.

Truthfully, any mythological God would have worked for this one--but it is White's risky choice to go the unconventional route that makes this a memorable read. Also, it's her ability to completely immerse the reader in Isadora's world. For example, rather than cussing like we would, she uses Egyptian Gods-related cussing.

What makes the story endearing is White's ability to redeem Isadora from a life we knew was flawed, but she knew as normal. Her familial interactions in the real world helps her connect even more with the reader, and seeing her in a completely different world than the one she grew up in humanizes her to us--even if she has always been just a human to her Godly family. We are able to sympathize with her and cheer her own in her efforts because she is now on our level; living out our struggles and dealing with issues similar to ours (save for the whole dangerous God coming after you bit.)

If you love mythology and want something slightly different from your typical myth-inspired young adult fiction, then I encourage you to give this one a chance. If you liked Mind Games, prepare yourself. White's writing style is completely different in this one.

A fun chocolately filled book which delighted me. Mythology retellings are one of the few things that I really like. I was happy to see that this was very original and a fun way to tell a story. The Isis myth is one that I don't get to see much as most of the retellings these days are from the Greek pantheon, not the Egyptian pantheon.

What I like is that Isadora seems like your typical teenager who is having parent issues and sometimes we don't feel like we fit in. In Isadora's case having a mother who is a goddess is suffocating for her. I mean Isis is one of these woman in mythology who is very powerful and successful in getting her own way. Isadora's mother is someone who wants her daughter to be happy, but has a gift for making Isadora feel like she's only around for her mother's will. I think a lot of us feel like our parents don't understand us or what we are going through. Isadora's dreams warn of danger. Yet her mother decides to ship her off to her brother Sirius's place.

Things get mighty interesting for Isadora when she decides to spend time in California with her brother Sirius. Sirius has been keeping his life a secret from the rest of his family. I felt that Sirius and his wife were just what Isadora needed. Isadora finds that going to a new place is good for her to grow as an individual. Isadora makes some friends. Having friends is one of the things that Isadora needs to grow. Tyler and Ry aka Orion really have fun and let Isadora into their circle. Isadora finds that she enjoys their company.

Plus the romance that happens between Orion and Isadora really was interesting as Isadora fears that being in love with someone will only lead to hurt and pain later on. Yet Orion tries to make her see that love is one of the greatest feelings a person can have. I think Orion sees things much differently as he feels very different towards being in love. As Isadora and Orion start to see each other they begin to have feelings. Feelings that are wonderful to experience for the first time. I thought that this relationship was really sweet and fun to read.
As the book progressed I felt like the last part of this story really had a lot of fun twists and gave us some really wonderful mother/daughter moments that were just really nice to see as Isadora and Isis always seem to be butting heads, but come together as a family. Family is important and a wonderful thing to have. Sometimes we need to almost lose it, to appreciate it.

I really enjoyed this book.

MY THOUGHTS
ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT

So what do you do when your mother, Isis is THE goddess of life and your father, Osiris, is THE god of death? As a sixteen year old, Isadora wants nothing more than for her parents that she literally worships, to pay attention to her. She also has epic family issues that make a soap opera look like child's play. Her aunt slept with her father and she has a half-brother, Anubis, who is all evil from that union. Her oldest brother is married to a drunken slut. Oh, and her mother has tried to kill the sun god, father of them all and has somewhat succeeded. When Isadora discovers that the room she has been decorating is actually her tomb, she freaks and has a major melt down when she realizes she is not immortal like her parents. Added to this, she has been having horrible dreams and her mother is also having them.

When her mother decides that she must go away, Isadora gets her unspoken wish and she is sent to her closest brother, Sirius, in San Diego. Her mother has also arranged a job for her at the local museum to display some of her mother's things, that Isadora describes as cast-offs, but in reality are priceless artifacts. There she meets Tyler, a girl who turns out to be something she never thought she would ever have: a BFF. Yes, Isadora is up on all the latest trends but has never experiences any of them in person. She also meets a sullen poet, Ry, short for Orion, the constellation she was born under. Ry quickly becomes the focus of all of her thoughts but since she feels that nothing is permanent, why should she ever fall in love? Even if the boy is handsome as a Greek god and makes her melt inside?

This is such a wonderful retelling of Egyptian mythology mixed with a bit of Greek. There is such a humorous undertone to White's writing that I just adore. Even though the background of the story revolves around ancient myths this is really a contemporary romance. There is also a mystery going on around Isadora and her family's power struggles. This just has the right balance of both to keep your interest and make this a super fast read. Parents: this is really acceptable for even pre-teens since there is no language issues, only a few kisses and a few instances of violence, which is less that what is on cartoons these days.

Another element I love to read in book is mythology is God and Goddess. I think the whole theory is fascinating! When an author takes the books and throws a twist in there, I can’t wait to read it.

Plot: What would you do if your parents were Gods? I think that be pretty cool. I really enjoyed getting into this plot and learning everything about them.The main character, Isadora is quite the gal. She is strong yet wants to be independent. Be her own person instead of who she is called to be. The daughter of a god, destined to die mortal and worship her parents. Each chapter lead up to growth of Isadore and her becoming who she wants to be. She learns more about herself and others around her. She begins to think differently.

Love: I think that this is the coolest part ever! It is so neat how well this author pieced the entire story together using stars. I loved watching this friendship grow into more. Watching these two characters let down their guard and trust on another is a bog step. I think they both have characteristics that each can learn from. Still, I think the way this particular element of stars is super cool.

Drama: Not only does this book have good use of stars but it also pertains lots of drama between the Gods. I mean, duh? How can you not. The struggle for power and worship is fierce in the book leading for some good action and plot twists.

Overall, I love this book! It was a quick, easy read that I divulge instantly. The plot is simple yet contains so much in characters and plot. Held together with beautifully written tales of power and betrayal, The Chaos Of Star is awesome.

A book featuring Egyptian and Greek gods is bound to jump the cue to the top of my reading list and The Chaos of Stars was no exception. The day when Isadora, daughter of two immortal Egyptian gods, realized that she wouldn't inherit her parents' immortality, was a pivotal point in her life. How could she form lasting relationships and commit herself to a romantic interest if she wasn't going to live forever?

The captivating beginning of this book ensnared me so thoroughly that I read through The Chaos of Stars in one day. If the start of the story was excellent, the rest of the book certainly didn't disappoint. There is a highly interesting, well-researched bit of history of the Egyptian gods in the beginning of each chapter.

Isadora’s dreams and visions of past events turning into darkness serves to crank up the suspense. Although Isadora is rebellious where anything to do with her mother, Isis, is concerned, she is by no means vindictive.

She has a deep desire to make friends, form permanent relationships and follow that tantalizing romantic possibility called Ry. Unfortunately, the knowledge that, unlike several of her siblings, she isn't immortal, keeps her from making a commitment. Geeky, stunningly good looking Ry, however, isn't about to let her slip through his fingers.

Although this book is a tale filled with action, suspense and a healthy dose of humor, it also looks deeply at some profound questions about life, living and mortality.

The Chaos of Stars is a thrilling, suspenseful tale of tasteful romance, with a whole lot of wisdom and an ever present touch of humor. If the ancient gods and their confusing, often dysfunctional families, interest you, this book should be a must-read. (Ellen Fritz)

The last book of an amazing series. The story started off normal with Evie talking about dragons, then leads into her watching her favorite TV show, Easton Heights. During the show Evie keeps getting beeped, and when she answers the call she is not talking to Raquel, but a new woman who has taken Raquel's place at IPCA. Evie isn't exactly thrilled after meeting Raquel, she is asked to rejoin IPCA as a full time employee. Evie doesn't want that and yet promises to think about it for Raquel's sake. Things however turn around for Evie. It's her birthday! Lend plans this wonderful birthday and everything just feels right. After the party Lend has her wait outside for him, but in the meantime she is tricked into the woods where she meets other paranormals and Lend's mom even appears. They come asking Evie for help, in letting them go free. They explain how they have come to be on this planet, and ask Evie to open a gate and let all paranormals go back home. Evie goes with no on this one. She isn't sure if she can open the door, let aloe survive it. Most importantly, if she does, it'll mean losing Lend, and she won't have that. However Evie does go to the diner the next day to hear them out. In the mist of this all the Dark Queen interrupts their talk. She is looking for the "empty one", but before Evie can do anything Lend changes himself to look like Evie, which means going with the Dark Queen. Not knowing how long they have until the queen finds out the true and gets mad, Evie will stop at nothing to kill the Dark Queen and rescue Lend. On the way to saving Lend, Evie is kidnapped by IPCA. In order to escape and save Lend, Evie will need the help of some faeries. Now I will save then end for you all to read. It is an ending to a series you won't want to miss! I give this book 5 stars.