Ceaseless: Review and Comparison Between Existence, Predestined and Ceaseless

I've finally finished the whole Existence trilogy by Abbi Glines. The final book is called Ceaseless. Check out the summary below:

Can he make her fall in love with him… again?

When Pagan Moore proved worthy of Death’s devotion, he was given the gift of getting to keep her.

But Dank was never promised that Pagan would keep him.

When a soul is created, so is its mate. In every lifetime those souls find each other. They complete the other’s destiny. It’s time for Pagan’s soul to choose if she truly wants an eternity at Death’s side or if she wants the mate created just for her.

Dank didn’t think he had to worry about her choice. He knew where her heart belonged. Until he realized that every kiss, every touch, every moment of their time together would be washed from her memories. He would have to win her heart all over again and prove to her soul that he was where she belonged.

If only her soul’s mate wasn’t right there standing in his way.

***

Truth to be told, I can't say that I like this book as much as Predestined. I mean, the book is still good. But it kind of disappoints me in some ways. Maybe I should state the good part first?

One of the better parts is the beginning of the book, where Pagan had lost her memory already. I haven't expect that Pagan will be so "empty-minded" right from the start of the book. It kind of strikes me. And I truly, truly feel bad for Dank and Gee. I once thought that her mind would be wiped out forcefully in some time in the book. An empty memory wasn't what I expected to appear at the start of the book.

Another is that the book is... fairly peaceful to read. I mean, if you want some massive mood swing, this is definitely not the first book you will come into. In a way that's quite good for me because I need to calm down a little to handle the upcoming YA novels like Clockwork Princess, Deity, Opal, etc. I can tell they will give me major mood swings, and I need something to calm down at least a little right now.

The comforting thing is that the writing skills of the author is just as good as ever even though the story line of Ceaseless is...well, a little messed-up. This is a good thing that an author can keep his/her writing skills for a long time (well, not that long)

Even though I really hate to say it, there are not-so-good (I figure it will be better if I use not-so-good instead of bad) parts in the book. I can't see the reason, but I can't really dwell in the book that far. If I truly want to read a book, I can just cut out all the voices and just dwell into it. But I can never really focus on the book like I did in Predestined. 

Another thing is that... well, you can say that the absence of love triangle is quite refreshing, and in a way I have to agree with it. But this time there was no love triangle. No angst in the book, at least not in the way that it should be. It really disappoints me a little bit. And some small parts of me actually thinks that Dank and Jay will go all-out boy fight (why does it reminds me of Aiden and Seth? I have no idea) over Pagan. There wasn't even a bit of competition. And I was like well, I expect way more than that.

And when I first read the Dank and Pagan who wanted sex badly, I just sort of lose my freaking voice. I can understand that Dank missed Pagan and wants to have (fun with) her, but I just can't freaking understand that what Pagan was doing at the end of the book. I mean, being a deity doesn't mean the her virginity will be ruined. She knows better than everyone (or so I thought). I was like what the hell are you doing, Pagan? I don't know if there's something wrong with the character or me, but in this book I actually prefer some more heart-to-heart relationship.

Rating: 6.5/10 

***
Comparison:

Since that the trilogy has already finished, I think a tiny comparison is needed here.
  
Existence is about the encounter of Dank and Leif. It's the start of the events in Predestined. It's a good start, you know. Starting things that will happen in the second book when the events happened in the first book is almost entirely different. I kinda appreciate that kind of skill. It is what brings me to continue the series on Predestined.

Predestined is the best of the trilogy. It centers the fight between Pagan and the Voodoo world. It's well-written. The emotions are very clear, and the threats are, well, actually threats. Wyatt's death is unexpected, and there are huge plot twists in the book that makes you actually wonder what will happen in the end of Predestined. This is a good one.

I can't say Ceaseless is not good. In fact like the first two books it's also well-written. But the plot isn't as exciting as Predestined. There are just chasing for nothing real. There are no actual fight in Ceaseless, and I think there would be more angst in the final book.

Existence trilogy is worth-reading, except that the plot in Ceaseless should be re-written a little. That will be much better.

Rating for the whole series: 7.5/10

Predestined and Leif: Review

And now, like the other readers of Existence Trilogy, I have to wait for the last book of the trilogy, Ceaseless. Cuz I've finished reading Predestined and the extra, Leif. And I'm gonna write two reviews in one post.

First is Predestined.

Check out the summary:

You would think after helping save her boyfriend from an eternity in Hell that things would go back to normal. Well, as normal as life can be when you can see souls and your boyfriend is Death. But for Pagan Moore, things are just getting weirder.

The high school quarterback and reigning heartthrob, Leif Montgomery, is missing. While the town is in a frenzy of worry, Pagan is a nervous wreck for other reasons. Apparently good ‘ol Leif isn’t your average teenage boy. He isn’t even human. According to Death, Leif doesn’t have a soul. The quarterback may have skipped town but he’s still showing up in Pagan’s dreams... uninvited.

Dank has known from the beginning Leif wasn’t human. But he hadn’t worried about a simple soulless creature. Now, he realizes he made a grave mistake. Pagan’s soul has been marked since birth as a restitution, to a spirit so dark not even Death walks near it. Dank knows saving Pagan’s soul won’t be easy but Pagan is his. And he’s already proven he’ll defy Heaven to keep her. If Hell wants a piece of him too, then bring it on.

***
I have to say, this book is way better than the first book. There are actually quite shocking parts. I hope that there will be more surprising moments in Ceaseless.

The first one is that Wyatt died. And then he was trapped in the voodoo island or whatever you wanna call it. I've never expect him to die. And less likely he was trapped in that horrible afterlife world. I was like what the hell is going on when I read the parts. And since that Dank said that his return was as unique as his death, I wonder if it is the guy who walked straightly to Miranda at the end of the book. Quite a unique way, huh.

The second one is that the Creator wanted to see Death. Alright, not what I expected, actually. But if I recall, I've never seen the scene that Death talked to the Creator. So if there is no such a scene in Predestined, can the author write the scene of the conversation between Death and the Creator?

I truly hate Leif in this book. He was being so controlling. If he truly head over heels in love with Pagan, he would do anything for her, even turn against his father to protect her and free her. I know that in some ways he did love her despite the fact that he was souless. But he's just being so goddamn weak. How can't he stop his father when his beloved girl (well at least that's what he said) was facing a hopeless future and he knew deep in his heart (if he had one) that what his father was doing was dead wrong? Death is absolutely right to take her back. I would prefer her dead than trapped in that horrible voodoo world. 

Finally Death can be a sweet guy. In the first book I can hardly see any real big caring scene. This can finally bring up his caring side for Pagan. I hope that in Ceaseless they will be together forever despite that Jay may step on their way and interfere them. It seems like Jay is a good guy. And I kind of loathe love triangles. I hope there will be no angst caused by love triangles. But I think that will be nearly impossible.

Pagan is one of the few girls in YA world that I don't like and hate at the same time (don't get me wrong. I like her actually). She is quite self-sacrificing and she actually cares about what others feel. Clary and Tessa may be the best heronies in my heart. But sometimes they hurt others' feelings. That makes me love and hate them at the same time. Especially when they're hurting the hot and caring and sarcastic (sarcastic is a beautiful word in Shadowhunters' world) guys in their life. Pagan cares about her friend. She cares about Death and Gee. I love that part of her even though she's only an ordinary human with the power of seeing souls.

Gee is the hilarity of the book. She is fun. She talking to Pagan are the most relaxing parts in the book. I hope that she will show up more in the forthcoming book. And I hope that their friendship will last. Gee is caring too. I don't want her suffer the pain of losing Pagan (if something will happen to Pagan) because that will be definitely too much for Gee.

I actually can't wait for Ceaseless now. Luckily the book will be released on September 18th, 2012, and I can read it soon.

Rating: 8/10

***

And now it's Leif, the book that states the point of view of Leif in the scenes of both Existence and Predestined.

Check out the summary:

"She was mine. I owned her soul…until Death stole her heart."

LEIF is a novella from the Existence series. It is glimpses into Leif's point-of-view during both Existence and Predestined.

* Also, each digital copy of LEIF has a free download for Dank Walker (AKA Death) newest song - Closer.

*** 

After reading Predestined. The first sentence of the summary of Leif annoys me. She was never his. She was for Death. Or at least Jay (since that he appeared to be her soul mate). And he didn't love her in the way that she deserves. He had no right to say those words.

Reading Leif is not the most interesting experience for me. Sometimes it's useful to read some of the point of views of his. But not all of them are that interesting. Maybe I'll be way more interested if Abbi states the point of view of Dank in Existence. People always adores the hot guy, huh? (Okay, I admit that Pagan(or Miranda?) thought Leif was a hot guy AT FIRST)

I think that will be excellent if there is a book states the point of views of Death. 

You may realize that the review of Leif is really short. But the fact is, I've nothing to say except that Leif is a coward and a control freak and a complete son of a... biscuit (I won't say bitch, because apparently he has good inside him even though he is souless).

Rating: 6.5/10