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In the sequel to Suzanne Young’s A Need So Beautiful, seventeen-year-old Elise wakes up in a desert park with no idea who she is. After that episode, her life takes a bizarre turn. She’s experiencing unexpected flashes of insight into people’s lives—people she’s never met before. Strangers frighten her with warnings about the approaching Shadows.
And although Elise has never had a boyfriend, she suddenly finds herself torn between two handsome but very different young men: Abe, the charming bad boy whose effect on her both seduces and frightens her, and the mysterious Harlin, who’s new to town but with whom Elise feels an urgent, elemental connection—almost as if they are soul mates.
Readers of the Sweet Evil trilogy will love A Want So Wicked, a wildly romantic thriller that explores the nature of good and evil.
I was excited to see an ARC of this book tucked into a box of books that Harper Teen sent me. I received a copy of A Need So Beautiful among other books when I won a writing contest last year and adored it. Charlotte was a sweet and endearing girl. It broke my heart to see her fighting the Need. I also liked how she was already dating an amazing guy and was so serious about him. Needless to say, while I realized from the last chapter of A Need So Beautiful and from the synopsis of book two that Charlotte isn't really gone, I was sad to let go of her. Without the same friends and family background Elise just isn't the same.
While Charlotte has been working with the Need since a young age, Elise only begins to delve the life of a Forgotten now at the age of seventeen. Having just moved into a new town, Elise unfamiliar with the people there, and there are few people who can give us insight into her life. What I see is the naïve, goody-goody daughter of a pastor who tends to see the good in people. There were many times when I wanted her to find an excuse to stay away from bad boy Abe, who's cocky and never clearly states his intentions towards Elise. He's not exactly a creepy, but upon close inspection he doesn't seem like he means well. I honest-to-goodness miss Charlotte, though I understand why Elise doesn't want to see herself as the reincarnation of another girl.
The source of my inability to connect as well with Elise may not only be because of the character differences between Charlotte and Elise. There is the lack of strong supporting characters. Charlotte had Sarah, Harlin, Monroe, and her family; in addition, there was more action with Charlotte's Need growing stronger and her meeting with Onika. In A Want So Wicked, the plot is more drawn out and complex with Elise having flashbacks to memories that aren't hers in addition to visions of Onika. There wasn't nearly enough elaboration on the plot for one as complex as this, though it does manage to tie together in the end.
I was delighted to see the return of some wonderful friends from book two. Most outstanding is Charlotte's--and now Elise's--love: Harlin. He's still the same sweet, caring guy from book one, but he's been broken, devastated as he was by losing Charlotte. I love the chemistry and sensual attraction between Harlin and Elise. It is very real, made all the more so because of Harlin's loss and his determination to remember Charlotte. And it is definitely much more natural than Abe's over-the-top flirtation and advances. I would have liked to get to know some of the side characters a bit better (like Abe and what's under that bad-boy exterior), especially the ones related to the Forgotten and Shadows, but I understand it wasn't always possible given their circumstances.
While I didn't enjoy A Want So Wicked as much as A Need So Beautiful, this is still a riveting sequel with a darker twist to the original concept that drew me to book one. If you loved book one, be warned that the tone in this book is darker than book one, though the wit exchanged between characters in the dialogue is as fresh and funny as ever. I enjoyed learning more about the Forgotten and the Shadows, and I will definitely be reading book three if there is one!
Come back on July 3rd for my interview with author Suzanne Young and for a chance to win a copy of A Want So Wicked!
Erlessard
Posted August 20, 2012
Overall: One of my major gripes with sequels is that they aren’t
stand-alone novels. A Want so Wicked can be read and enjoyed by itself,
though I heavily recommend you check out its amazing predecsessor, A
Need So Beautiful. Characters: I had more trouble connecting with
Harlin in this book than in the first book. The reasoning for him being
so distant is explained at the end of the story, but it doesn’t make
sense and really killed his character for me. I wasn’t feeling his
commitment towards Charlotte/Elise. I also got annoyed with Elise with
how she ignored her sister, because Elise was so self-centered in this
novel. Charlotte gave everything she could to show her friends and
family how much they meant, while Elise kind of shut everyone away to be
with some guy. I originally liked Abe’s character but by the end he
became nothing short of pathetic. I wish he had at least one redeeming
quality. Plot: This book has the same basic plot as A Need So
Beautiful, only with more sub-plots and characters. It’s darker and the
history of the Forgotten and Seers is more fleshed out with this book.
Ending: The twist involving Elise’s sister shocked me. I totally did
not expect any of that to happen. Elise’s choice also surprised me, but
I felt like it was for the best. I really hope that the author
continues this series, since there is so much more that could be
explained and revealed about this world.
This might be a rare feat in itself. I think I liked this one MORE than I liked A Need So Beautiful. With the first book in the series, I didn't really love the story until the end. This time around, I really just enjoyed the entire novel.
I think the most important aspect of this novel was the simple fact that I liked Elise. She's trying hard to keep her family together since her mother died. She has a wayward sister and an absent father. When strange things start happening to her, she questions them. And I liked that she goes to her father. He may be absent, but I liked the relationship they do have. Her sister was interesting too. I think there bond with stood a lot of ups and downs between the two of them. I was sad to see that her sister didn't turn to her in her own troubles.
I thought the paranormal aspect of the story was interesting. I'm not sure how the whole Charlotte/Elise thing really worked. But, I didn't really dwell on it. I felt like Elise's need was a little different than the way it was portrayed in the first book. I felt more connected to it. I think my favorite part was actually the way the shadows were explained and portrayed. It didn't take me long to figure out how it all fit into the bigger picture.
I liked how the two romances were played out. It never felt like a love triangle. Maybe it was because I knew who Elise should be with. Plus, I just really got the creeps from Abe. I didn't like the way he talked. Turns out I was right in the manner of his speaking.
Once again, another angel series that I will be continuing. I love it when angel books are done right!
I DEVOURED this book in just a few short hours! When I finished, I wanted my review to be this... Harlin. THAT IS ALL! ;) What I need to say... The Shadows are coming and seventeen year old Elise will have to face them, whether she's prepared or not. The problem? She doesn't know who she is or what the Shadows are. When Elise moves with her older sister, Lucy and their Dad to Thistle, Arizona, her focus is on making friends, getting her first job and starting a new school. Things don't go so smoothly, especially when she begins to have visions, ones that involve seeing into other people's lives, random strangers who tell her about these Shadows and when she looks into the mirror, her reflection isn't always her own. Oh yeah, why does the name Charlotte sound familiar? What.Is.Going.On?! Despite being beautiful, Elise has zero experience with boys (that's Lucy's expertise) yet she somehow manages to find herself caught between two cute but very different guys in a short amount of time. (This does not sit well with dear old Dad). Abe, her co-worker is charming and all kinds of cutesauce but he also has a bit of reputation around town. Elise likes him but his behavior confuses her at times, especially when Abe acts like she's his shiny new toy and he forgets the kindergarten lesson that, "sharing is caring". She can tell he's harboring a sadness behind that Mr. Popularity act of his and has a desire to help him. Then there's Harlin, aka "Hotsauce on Wheels". He's the mysterious new guy in town who Elise feels an immediate connection too, almost as if she loves him already but how can that be possible? She just met the guy! Harlin is laugh-out-loud funny, sweet and Dad seems to approve but Elise can sense a grief in him too and it breaks her heart. They enjoy moments of witty banter that had me snorting and others that had me fanning my face. *fans face* Being the object of two boys' affection isn't the only problem Elise has though. The visions become more frequent, blurring the lines between waking and dreaming. She learns that Shadows are the Forgotten who struggle with the Want and if she doesn't stop them, they will destroy everything that's good. Familiar faces both good and evil return in this thrilling sequel that leads up to an ending that's as beautiful and shocking as it is heartbreaking. I truly enjoyed Elise, even more so than Charlotte. *ducks flying tomatoes* I loved her wit and her heart. She loves so deeply and chooses to see the good in people despite the choices they've made. I loved Harlin but, seriously, this IS Harlin we're talking about. *rolls eyes* ;) While it's obvious he's struggling with his grief over losing Charlotte, he hasn't lost any of his sense of humor. I'd say he's my favorite character and it's not because of his looks. (Well, maybe a little bit) He knows his role as Seer is important but he's not entirely comfortable with it yet. As we saw in the first book, he has a rebellious streak but he's very tender hearted and has difficulty letting go which makes him all the more swoon worthy. *hugs Harlin* Some of these characters make choices that just break my heart for them. As I was reading it made me think of how people in our own lives make choices that leave us broken hearted and powerless to help them. But you know, it's really not our job to save or change people, only to love them.
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Overview
In the sequel to Suzanne Young’s A Need So Beautiful, seventeen-year-old Elise wakes up in a desert park with no idea who she is. After that episode, her life takes a bizarre turn. She’s experiencing unexpected flashes of insight into people’s lives—people she’s never met before. Strangers frighten her with warnings about the approaching Shadows.
And although Elise has never had a boyfriend, she suddenly finds herself torn between two ...