Invincible by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Author: Sherrilyn Kenyon
Publisher: Atom
Published: March 22nd 2011
Pages: 309
Format: Paperback
Source: Review Copy from Atom
Add It: Goodreads, Amazon, TBD
Summary:
Nick Gautier’s day just keeps getting better and better. Yeah, he survived the zombie attacks, only to wake up and find himself enslaved to a world of shapeshifters and demons out to claim his soul.
His new principal thinks he’s even more of a hoodlum than the last one, his coach is trying to recruit him to things he can’t even mention and the girl he’s not seeing, but is, has secrets that terrify him.
But more than that, he’s being groomed by the darkest of powers and if he doesn’t learn how to raise the dead by the end of the week, he will become one of them…
We Begin Again
When I read Infinity, I found myself really intrigued by the concept and fell in love with Sherrilyn Kenyon’s writing style. The novel grabbed my attention and kept me wanting more. Invincible is the second book in this series but, unfortunately, it didn’t keep my attention as well as the first book did. Normally the next book on is better than the first, a way to bring that background concept to light. For me, however, Invincible simply did not achieve this. It was difficult to keep my focus on the book at times and I was constantly disappointed about how much I wasn’t thoroughly enjoying the book like I did with Infinity.
The Treacherous Path
In this novel, Nick faces many different obstacles, all of which could define who he is and who he will one day become. It was definitely nice to see which paths he took and why, it was interesting to see how he valued his life and the lives of his friends too. I did like the journey he went on but some of the things that happened just felt too odd to me and I didn’t particularly like the way it all came together in the end. There were parts in this story that were really interesting and kept you page-turning but there were also other moments that I found myself disinterested and bored. It was disappointing for me because I know how much potential the story has. While I was reading it, I couldn’t help but wonder, if I had a detailed background of The Dark Hunters, if I would have enjoyed this book a little more.
Has Many Helpers
While I did like a few characters in this book – such as Nick’s mum – there were quite a few that I struggled to like. Unfortunately, just as was the same in the first book, Nick was one character I just couldn’t get myself to like. It’s possible I just couldn’t understand him because I’m a girl and a lot older but I just found him to be annoying a lot of the time. I liked the journey he went on and a few of the choices he made but personality wise? I just couldn’t get behind him on a lot of things. I also didn’t like Caleb. He was just… irritating and I don’t think he was supposed to be. I can’t quite explain what I really didn’t like about him but I just couldn’t be happy when he appeared on the page. Kody was an alright character but there were also times when she got on my nerves and I just felt like rolling my eyes at her. I think my problem with all the characters is that at times they felt very two-dimensional, as though they are simply there for plot-fuelled reasons but don’t have their own distinct personalities at the same time. That, or they’re really better designed for younger audiences.
So that it Ends
I did like the ending of this book. I like how it concluded this “chapter” – as it were – of this series but you can tell that more is about to happen. It feels like the next book in the series has potential to be better than Invincible and for that reason I am looking forward to getting my hands on the next book. I can only hope that it doesn’t disappoint me as well. The world-building around this book was quite interesting and probably the main thing that kept me turning the page. I want to see where this leads to, how it all works out. Will Nick manage to save the world or will he destroy it? This question, among many more, is the reason that I have not yet given up on this series.
With Grace and Dignity
Overall this is a book that I did like and enjoyed in parts but it was also difficult for me to keep my focus on. It took a while to read as I wasn’t compelled to keep reading. It is one that I feel younger audiences would pick up and read quickly and enjoy it thoroughly as I can see how it is better tuned in for their tastes. Unfortunately, that simply wasn’t the case for me. I am still interested in Sherrilyn Kenyon and am still intrigued enough with this story to carry on with the next book. I just do really hope that it picks my interest back up and keeps me completely involved in the story. This was a book that had the potential to be brilliant but was unfortunately, in my opinion, only mediocre.
Three out of Five Hearts
* I received this book in return for an honest review *
Faye