Review: Illuminate by Aimee Agresti
IN A GLANCE: Stunning, suspenseful and beautifully written, Illuminate is a great read.
Title: Illuminate
Author: Aimee Agresti
Publisher: Harcourt
Publish Date: 3/6/2012
Format: ARC Paperback
Pages: 544
ISBN #: 978-0-547-62614-7
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Haven Terra is a brainy, shy high school outcast. But everything begins to change when she turns sixteen. Along with her best friend Dante and their quiet and brilliant classmate Lance, she is awarded a prestigious internship in the big city— Chicago—and is sent to live and work at a swanky and stylish hotel under the watchful eyes of a group of gorgeous and shockingly young-looking strangers: powerful and alluring hotel owner Aurelia Brown; her second-in-command, the dashing Lucian Grove; and their stunning but aloof staff of glamazons called The Outfit.
As Haven begins falling for Lucian, she discovers that these beautiful people are not quite what they seem. With the help of a mysterious book, she uncovers a network of secret passageways from the hotel’s jazz-age past that leads her to the heart of the evil agenda of Aurelia and company: they’re in the business of buying souls. Will they succeed in wooing Haven to join them in their recruitment efforts, or will she be able to thwart this devilish set’s plans to take the souls of her classmates on prom night at the hotel?
Illuminate is an exciting saga of a teen’s first taste of independence, her experience in the lap of luxury, and her discovery she may possess strength greater than she ever knew.
Review:
Illuminate is beautifully written and a major page turner. I couldn't get enough of this suspense filled book. Each page left me with more questions and I always had to go read more so I could possibly get the answers I needed. Illuminate, is a book that once you start reading you wont want to stop no matter what. It will keep you guessing at every turn and once you think you have the answers, Aimee Agresti throws in another curve ball and your back to square one.
I love books that keep your attention at every second and books that you can't put down because you have to know whats going to happen next and Illuminate is definitely one of those books.
I really loved reading this great book. Aimee Agresti is definitely one of my new favorite authors. I can't wait for more of this series and any other book she writes. The way she writes about her characters either makes you love them or hate them, depending on if they are a good guy or a bad one. Her characters, like Haven, are very well developed and well written. I even caught myself yelling at my book once or twice and I even laughed really loudly making my kids look at me funny. I loved reading how the characters grew within each chapter.
I loved the idea of the book and the postcards, I'm not going to say anything else about them, because I don't want to give it away, but I did love how they got them and the answers with in. These items were very mysterious just like the writers of each item.
I enjoyed the detail of this story and the mystery of it as well. I couldn't get enough!
Illuminate is the perfect Good VS. Evil story and I loved rooting for Haven and her friends. Oh and did I mention the love stories. I really was rooting for her and Lucian, but I really love the idea of her and Lance as well. I really enjoyed seeing that the "perfect" ones in this book really aren't as perfect as they seem. I will definitely say Illuminate is a Must Read of 2012!
As for the Cover, I will explain it with two words...Breath Taking! Love the color and the font of the title. I love the girl and that dress. And I must say I love the shadows on the cover as well. The cover is perfect for the story! Its Absolutely lovely!
My Recommendation:
A perfect YA book, even adults will love this book. I know I did! There is nothing really offensive in it and so I do agree with the book's age recommendation. 12 and Up is the perfect age group for Illuminate.
My Rating:
Plot: 20/20
Characters: 20/20
Writing: 20/20
Creativity: 20/20
Ending: 10/10
Cover: 10/10
100 out of 100 = 5 Puppy Rating
A Must Read of 2012! Absolutely loved it! Illuminate is a perfect start to the series and I can't wait for more!
