I guess I should've seen this coming because of the not-so-happy-good reviews about the book in Goodreads. But I still wanted to read it as I TOTALLY LOVED the Too Far series. So, it couldn't be that bad, right? Oh boy...
It had a great start. Definitely reels you in. The premise of being able to see ghosts and haunted by a dark, mysterious, and handsome soul...to me was really interesting. I was hooked. I wanted more. Until I didn't.
First of all, I really hated their names. And no. I didn't get used to it. Seriously, of all the names available on God's green earth Ms. Glines chose 2 of the most terrible ones for her characters(read more name rants below). Every time I read "Pagan" it reminds me of its meaning, one who has no religion. Yet here we are reading about heaven and hell and death and deities. And then there's Dank. Every time I see that name I imagine a dark, damp, humid place that I'd rather stay away from. I think for just a little bit I get why the author used these names. But honestly, they don't fit the characters. I just don't see these names on the characters she created. Ok, nuff said about the names. I. JUST. HATE. THEM.
Second, Pagan is one clingy, super needy girl! I swear I never hated a protagonist as much as her. Geez Louise! I was so close to not finishing the book. She used Leif. She used her friends. For someone who has a great life, great friends, a loving mother, good grades and standing in school, she was undeserving and lacking. Her will to live hangs on one person-thing she'd known for like, what, a week? Like all the other good things in her life MEANT NOTHING. Even her sacrifice at the end didn't redeem her. Arrrgghh! She was weak. We need a strong heroine here and not a wimp. She's dealing with death for chrissakes!
Third, Dank was a good character. But he wasn't a standout. He could've been more. I really don't know what to say about him. I'm kind of torn. Do I like him? Do I not like him? *shrugs*
Last, the cliffhanger. What the hell was that? Nowhere in the book did Leif appear to be anything more than human. He was as normal as they come. And then suddenly the one-sentence cliffhanger?! I almost pulled my hair out for that one. It doesn't even entice me to read the second book. But I will anyway because I'm hoping that Abbi Glines redeems herself and all her characters in the sequel.
