was this written by Kelly Armstrong?!

I have read the women of the Otherworld series several times through. I love Armstrong's work. And this just doesn't feel like it. The main characters find it difficult to hurt someone or kill the bad guy??? What? On top of that she pushes gender politics way too much. They'll be talking about escape or something and in the middle of that "oh wait! I'm bisexual!". And lastly. The first and second book should be one book. It isn't a TV show where you can stop in the middle of the story. Super disappointed with this. I was excited, and now I don't want to read any more of this series.

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Overly Preachy about Gender Fluidity

The constant monologues about how ALL the characters should be sexually fluid and gender neutral in their attractions to others annoyed me. Is it not okay to be straight anymore?

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Not what I expected

After the previous story I didn't expect this on to be more about teens trying to determine their sexuality. It seems the author tried to force every type of relationship or sexual orientation from a full transvestite that is 13 years old to perverted guys that want to hurt people. I didn't finish the book because it took away from the story. The story could have been constructed better.

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The LgbTQ deserves more seamless push in the story

try too hard to be socially correct as if they'll be every member of the LGBTQ in 1 book in this way seems forced in this structure the author had to make it more seamless nothing wrong with having everybody present just need to go about it in a better way where it doesn't seem forced

Growing up as a supernatural.

The complexities of teenagers, hormones, friends, real friends and life situations. Show themselves throughout booth books. The language especially explicit words is in keeping with the times.
The direct take on sexual lifestyle is brought up but neither encouraged or discouraged. Rather it explained as a fact of life that one will have to deal with as they grow up.
Finally the story itself, full of action, exciting situations and what real friendships are. Definitely written four the fouteen-sixteen year old youth market. Still even at seventy-five I found it interesting and informative therefore I own both.

Too preachy...

I love Kelley Armstrong's work, and even though these two books (which should be ONE book, by the way...since when does Kelley Armstrong stop in the MIDDLE of the story to await the next book... there was no end to the story arc, the first book just. stops. in the middle of the story arc...disappointing), are young adult, I still like her young adult stuff.

That being said, these kids are in the middle of a DEADLY crisis, but stop (constantly) in the middle of running from people trying to HURT THEM to discuss gender fluidity and race issues. I'm sorry, were you not just RUNNING FOR YOUR LIVES? Do you really have time to stop and preach at us? Also, is it very believable that kids who don't know each other just *happen* to run into other kids with gender fluidity issues? At a camp? For supernaturals? Really?

I don't have a problem with people deciding for themselves who they want to be... to each his own... but when it has LITERALLY NOTHING to do with the plot, why is it being discussed for half the book. This was supposed to be an adventure for supernatural teens, but half the books are about gender fluidity and race issues. Sorry Ms. Armstrong, I can tell you have strong feelings about these issues, and I don't disagree with your feelings, but they didn't really belong in this type of book. Every time these discussions took place, it was jarring. It takes you out of the story, and into the author's living room. Not where I wanted to be at the time. If you want to have a conversation about such things, I'm open to it... just leave it out of a fantasy book.

Kevin Hearne did the same thing in one of his most recent (Ink and Sigil) books... it's annoying. When I pick up a book about supernatural adventure, I want supernatural adventure, when I'm in the mood for gender issues, I'll pick up a book about that... or watch the news. Supernatural adventure should take us AWAY from the current news issues of the day. I feel like author's are USING us. They know they have fans who will read any book they write, so they use that against us. It's insulting and annoying that we are being used. I think I'll return these books. I kept hoping it would get better, but it just got worse.

Also, I cannot tell if authors are doing this to *use* us... soapboxing and taking advantage of their fans to do so, or if they are trying to prove something to audiences. "Hey look at me, I'm cool with all the latest issues in our country... I'm liberal, so don't blame me for any problems." (Reminds me of a professor who used to curse in the middle of his lectures... "Look at me, I'm the cool prof"... nope, just unprofessional). Either way, it's insulting. Just tell me a story, but make it a story that is consistent with the publisher's description. THAT's why I purchased the book, after all. Sometimes I *do* wish to read books about the issues of the day, but I purchase books with that in mind.

Also, the author makes it very clear that being bi- or as- or trans-sexual (yes, they ALL come up, and in one small group of friends... who just happened to meet... at a camp... for supernaturals) is okay in this book, and that anyone who has a problem with such is a &*%$@ (bleep... I HATE the b-word). Okay. I agree that being whoever you want or need to be is fine. We're all different, and that's what makes this world of ours so fascinating. Agreed. But the author also makes a case that if someone starts dating someone who is transsexual, and breaks up with that person if they find out after they start dating, then the person is also a (bleep). THAT I disagree with. If it's okay to be trans or bi, then it should also be okay to be straight. Everyone has their own comfort level with gender fluidity. While it is NOT okay to judge someone based on their gender fluidity, is certainly IS okay to decide you don't have enough comfort with fluidity to bring it into your sexual (or pre-sexual, these are teens, after all) relationships. IT IS WRONG to call someone a horrible name because they don't have that level of comfort. WE ARE ALL DIFFERENT... and that is good, it is okay, and if it is wrong to judge someone for being "trans", it is also WRONG to judge someone for being straight. Just my two cents.

My main issue with these books (other than it is really ONE book, just chopped in half for capital gain), is that Ms. Armstrong KNOWS how to tell a great story... where you get so wrapped up in the plot and characters that you forget where you are, even forget WHO you are... she's normally fantastic with such things. In this book(s), I cannot count the number of times I was jarred out of the story by inappropriately timed conversations... just so the author could use me for her own soapboxing. Yes I feel used. It's not a pleasant feeling.

If you want to have a living room discussion, where we discuss our feelings on the issues of the day, invite me over for tea, and we can wax philosophical. Or write a book about the subject and put it in the publisher's summary. Please don't waylay me in the middle of a story, where characters are RUNNING FOR THEIR LIVES. (Literally, they often said, "I know now is not the time to discuss this, because" we are ... being pursued, etc.) If even the characters realize it has nothing to do with the plot or story arc, perhaps it should be discussed somewhere else?

There, now I've soapboxed. If you find this review helpful, please say so. If not, I'm sorry I wasted your time.

Diverse and interesting, but kinda fluffy

Regarding the sexuality and gender stuff so many seem to focus on: Yes, it is mentioned. Yes, it is diverse. Does it take away from the story? No, not at all. It actually makes it grow in some rather interesting and original ways.
And it's very refreshing to see so much diversity in YA - not that Armstrong's been non-diverse before.

I'm only giving a 3/5 star rating, however, because there was some stuff here that was only filler - not the sexuality stuff. "story" stuff.
I think it could easily have been cut to combine the 2 books into 1 better one, but I do love Armstrong and don't mind supporting her art.

Great story, not thrilled with performance.

I really enjoyed the story, however I was t impressed with the narration. The male narrator was a little flat with his tone for me, and the female was way to nasal. I was able to get past both, and finished this and the first volume in just a little over 24 hours. I would recommend it to all readers who enjoyed the “Otherworld “ series.