Tisha808 Female, 30. USA

I quite enjoyed the concept of two worlds existing simultaneously, but found the main character, Irina, to be so immature and bad at communicating that it was hard to enjoy the plot! It felt like watching a tv show where you just want to yell, "tell him!" or "be honest!" If, in fact, this book is intended to be didactic, that was lost on me. Her choice, to kiss or not to kiss another man, did not actually decide her happiness in the end. She chose that by not communicating her needs in either "world" and by being incessantly dissatisfied. I was glad when it ended and I didn't have to spend any more time in her self-absorbed universe.

Initially I couldn't put this book down because the idea behind it was so disturbingly intriguing. I mean, a family intentionally poisoning their unborn children so as to create their own freak show!!!
I knew I definitely needed a break, though (and that I am probably susceptible to cult leaders) when I started to see LOGIC in this bizarre group's decisions. At one point I actually wanted to join up with them!!
If you can get past the distasteful theme, the book is captivating and very well written.
However, I did recommend it to a friend who hated it and thought it was too weird and gross. He has bad taste, I guess.

From the believable and beautifully flawed characters to the unique quality of the writing, i was drawn into this book. I should have read it long ago, but I'm glad I finally sat down to do it on a snow day. I wish I had been in a book club, as this book left the reader with a lot to ponder and discuss.

Since I teach high school, I felt obligated to read this series. I never would have paid for them (the box set is RIDICULOUSLY expensive), and they are never available in the library... BUT I have a dear friend in the publishing business (she gives me ALL my books!) who hooked me up with the collector set. I read them so as to be better able to relate to my teenage students.
It was easy and sort of fun to read, though I found the descriptions tedious at times. I also loathed the main character. She happens to be the exact one that my female students so strongly relate to. Well, I guess I am almost 30 and the teenage angst seems melodramatic and overdone to me.
Oh well... I read all 4 in the series. If you like vampires and wish you could date one, then this is the series for you.
Also if you think secretly you are NOT actually a boring, average human with no special skills or talents, then you may relate to Bella. Ugh.