Transparent by Natalie WhippleSeries: Transparent #1
Genre: Paranormal
Release Date: May 21, 2013
Publisher: HarperTeen
Source: Publisher
Add it: Goodreads
Rating:
Plenty of teenagers feel invisible. Fiona McClean actually is.
An invisible girl is a priceless weapon. Fiona’s own father has been forcing her to do his dirty work for years—everything from spying on people to stealing cars to breaking into bank vaults.
After sixteen years, Fiona’s had enough. She and her mother flee to a small town, and for the first time in her life, Fiona feels like a normal life is within reach. But Fiona’s father isn’t giving up that easily.
Of course, he should know better than anyone: never underestimate an invisible girl.
X-Men. That is what Transparent promised. It lied.
Honestly, I was expecting more on the powers front. There was an excellent explanation behind why people had powers, and there was a decent range of powers, but I wish there had been more action involving the powers. People could have been going around being awesome assassin ninjas, but instead the majority of characters did absolutely nothing with them because this book was set in high school.
I don’t understand why the author came up with this awesome world full of crime, special abilities, and evil people, just to make the main character enrol in high school. I wanted more mafia stuff, more stuff with Fiona on the run, and just… more stuff. The high school aspect was really boring.
Once Fiona ran away from her interestingly evil father, she started school and from then on all the book was was high school drama, mother/daughter drama that was dull as fork, and emails exchanged between Fiona and her brother. Yay?
Fiona got new friends and a love interest. Of course. I didn’t really pay much attention towards the end, because I was falling asleep, but the friendship business was dull. Fiona was horrible to Bea, and Bea was a complete idiot, if I’m honest. She was so clingy, and at one point she asks Fiona to spit on her so she can see if Fiona’s saliva is invisible-yet-wet. Really? Unnecessary spitting is gross. Don’t do it.
Overall this book lacked action. It also lacked powers and mafia business, which is silly since the book is pitched as X-Men meets The Godfather. If you’re going to market a book like that, then you should make sure it lives up to it. Don’t send the main character to high school and then ditch all the potential action in favour of teenage crap. I ended up skimming the last third of the book, and
This. Just this. Nail on the head. Stupid book of wasted potential. *sigh*
Awwww no! I really enjoyed this one, though I guess it comes down to the school part which I enjoyed and you didn’t. I agree about the unnecessary spitting though. Ick! Despite the differing opinions, I love how you write your reviews Amber! Plus, the GIF! Love the GIF 😛
Jade @ Ink Scratchers
I actually cancelled my preorder of this book because I’ve read nothing but average or slightly negative reviews for it, which is unfortunate considering the plot of the book sounds awesome. But now . . . I’m just going to wait around until my local library has a copy of it. Sorry to hear you were disappointed with the book but thanks for your nice and honest review! 😀
Oh my goodness… I do the same thing when I can’t handle the direction a book is taking. I’m just too curious as to what happens in the end, lol. Doesn’t sound like a book I’d want to pick up if it lacks action. I don’t mind the drama of school and whatnot, but you would expect a little bit more action in a book like this. Great review! 🙂
Oh, man, I hate being disappointed as you were just disappointed. Is it wrong, though, that I’m suppressing laughter atm? Because this reaction is just too funny, in spite of how infuriated or frustrated you might feel.
But, come on, what do you expect after “unnecessary spitting is gross”? LOLOLOLOL
I love the Sherlock gif at the end! I’ll be sure to stay away from this one. Great review!
I’ve nominated you for The Very Inspiring Blogger Award because I really like your blog and I enjoy reading your reviews
http://livingforthebooks.blogspot.com/2013/06/the-very-inspiring-blogger-award.html
Ugh, I HATE when there are awesome powers in a book or movie and they don’t get used. What the hell is the reason to have them if you don’t do badass things with them? For example The Darkest Minds where only that one guy uses his regularly. Pretty much everyone else uses them like once. *harrumphs*
Also, I had one person recommend this to me as awesome, but everyone else was bored to tears. There’s no way I would read this. Also, you know it’s bad when you have to resort to skimming. I did that in Prophecy.