Abandon
Author: Meg Cabot
Series: Abandon Trilogy #1
Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Fantasy, Mythology
Release Date: April 26, 2011
Publisher: Point
Summary:
But now she’s moved to a new town. Maybe at her new school, she can start fresh. Maybe she can stop feeling so afraid.
Only she can’t. Because even here, he finds her. That’s how desperately he wants her back. She knows he’s no guardian angel, and his dark world isn’t exactly heaven, yet she can’t stay away…especially since he always appears when she least expects it, but exactly when she needs him most.
But if she lets herself fall any further, she may just find herself back in the one place she most fears: the Underworld.
First Sentence: Anything can happen in the blink of an eye.
My Review:
I read Abandon a long time ago, more than a year before I started blogging in fact. I mean, even before I started blogging, I’ve heard of the well-known Meg Cabot because she wrote the famous Princess Diaries. I personally wasn’t really interested in Meg Cabot’s books despite all the hype her books get until I saw the cover of Abandon. The cover of Abandon is freaking gorgeous, but sadly, the inside of the book isn’t as gorgeous as the cover.
Abandon started off really rocky – right from the very first twenty or so pages, we were dropped with so much backstory. I usually don’t mind that, but the problem with Abandon is that nothing is ever explained. Pierce, the narrator of the book, constantly hints and states that bad incidents had happened to her, but never talks about them in further detail. Pierce does later give us the full story, but by then, my mind is a jumbled mess, trying to keep track of how many mysterious “incidents” Pierce had hinted about and when they had happened in whatever order she said.
Everyone wants to believe that there’s something else – something great – waiting for them on the other side. Paradise. Valhalla. Heaven Their next – hopefully less horrible – life. (ARC 16)
As of Pierce herself, I couldn’t really connect with her. There’s also a know-it-all feeling to her that I just didn’t like. She’s also sometimes a little slow – honestly, why will a guy help save you whenever you’re in danger, even though you offended him time and time again, even though you caused him a lot of physical and mental pain? Also, although Pierce cares more for others than how she cares for herself (she rescues birds, lizards, etc. and always asks about how the other person is first despite the danger she too was in), the way she treats Alex does not reflect that. In fact, it causes me to think that Pierce isn’t as caring as she seems and is insensitive towards others.
As for John, I don’t have a feel for him. All I know is that he has a bad temper and that he likes Pierce. However, I get this controlling vibe coming from John, which I don’t like. I guess i have to read on to find out what he’s really like.
Whatever John had been through – whatever they had put him through, whatever I had put him through – had left a scar. On the inside this time, where I couldn’t touch it. (ARC 302)
The ending of Abandon was pretty disappointing. It lacked the ooph and the wow feeling I like to get when I finish a book. Guys, would you like it when a you read a big reveal that you weren’t really expecting, only to find out that it ends with the main characters just running away from the fight? Really? To make matters worse, when the characters ran away, they’re planning to hide for awhile, maybe forever, and expect to be happy. Really?
Since Abandon is a retelling of the story of Persephone, I just have to compare it to other Persephone retelling books I’ve read: the Everneath series by Brodi Ashton and the Goddess Test series by Aimee Carter. I’m sad to say that Abandon brings nothing new to the Persephone myth retelling except for the addition of the Furies. But then again, I don’t think the myth of Persephone had any Furies in it the first place.
“It’s not them doing the killing, Pierce. It’s the Furies possessing them.”
“We have to stop them before they hurt anyone else, John,” I said. “We have to stop them.” (ARC 293)
Overall, there sadly isn’t anything else I can say about Abandon. In the end, it’s just a plain, unnoticeable book. I feel like Abandon definitely isn’t the best Persephone out there. If you’re looking for a better Persephone retelling book, the Everneath series by Brodi Ashton would be a way better chance. In fact, I personally feel that the Everneath series beats Abandon by huge leaps and bounds.
I used to LOVE Meg Cabot when I was little but I don’t think I could ever enjoy her books the same way now if that makes sense? Sometimes I think it’s best to leave childhood authors behind and just have the fond memories of when you used to love their writing rather than trying to appreciate it again when you’re older.
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I am a Meg Cabot fan but for some reason never really wanted to read this one. I own a copy (somewhere) just haven’t gotten around to reading it. Sad to see it doesn’t make it’s mark compared to the other modern persephane retellings.
Kate @ whYAnot recently posted…Book Review: Wild Awake by Hilary T. Smith
I think I’ll stick with the Everneath series then. This book had some sort of.. cliched feeling for me. I’m sorry to hear it didn’t live up to the cover!
Mel@thedailyprophecy recently posted…Epic Recs: December.
I love retellings of Greek myths but it sounds like this one isn’t very good. I’ll check out the Everneath series instead!
Ooh I had no idea that this was a Persephone retelling. I recently bought this book…basically just because the cover is AMAZING and I kind of fell in love in a used bookstore (which is literally the only time I’ve done that in years), so I’m been disappointed to hear from so many people that it’s only so-so. Oh well. I’ll probably eventually get to it, but right now I’m enjoying just staring at it on my bookcase and don’t want to shatter the allure just yet ;)
Some of the things you said about Pierce just made me laugh (don’t worry, it was in a good way). I’ve never heard about a character being slow. And you’re right about the cover…it is gorgeous! That’s exactly the same reason why I wanted to read Abandon. I guess I shouldn’t though. I’m not sure if I can take another book with too much jumbled back story that doesn’t explain itself until almost the end. Thanks for being honest though. I’m not sure how or if I could even write a review like yours :3
It’s so sad to see a good cover go to waste! D: Anyway, I’ll still try this book. Hopefully I’ll enjoy it… somehow. Anyway, great review, Kelly! :)
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This book actually looks pretty fine, I think I’ll enjoy this book! Thanks for the review :)
Sandra @Sandra’s World of Books recently posted…Dead To You – Lisa McMann
I went into this book after reading a bunch of reviews that didn’t end up enjoying it. While I didn’t hate it, I just didn’t like it that much either. It does really have a good cover though. And this is my favorite myth. Just didn’t execute.
I won a giveaway of the trilogy, but I dont have a US mailing address, it’s saddening. :(
I had a huge problem liking the female character. She did not seem like a girl that I would want to know. She was too prissy, a rich girl who in a round about we acted like one and she was so mean to the main male character. Frankly, I never knew what he saw in her. I would not recommend this book to anyone, personally.
Good review! I usually like Meg Cabot’s books but this one didn’t wow me.
I have been a Meg Cabot fan for such a long time – she is the first YA author I ever read, and while this wasn’t her best work, she still had the snark that she maintains in all of her books…I didn’t really get a know-it-all-vibe from Pierce -I quite liked her, actually – but hey, everyone has different opinions.
As always, great review :)
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