Lailah by Nikki Kelly Series: Styclar Saga #1
Publisher: Feiwel and Friends on October 7, 2014
Genres: Paranormal, Young Adult
Pages: 387
Format: Paperback
Source: Blog Tour
Purchase: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads
Rating:
The girl knows she’s different. She doesn’t age. She has no family. She has visions of a past life, but no clear clues as to what she is, or where she comes from. But there is a face in her dreams – a light that breaks through the darkness. She knows his name is Gabriel.
On her way home from work, the girl encounters an injured stranger whose name is Jonah. Soon, she will understand that Jonah belongs to a generation of Vampires that serve even darker forces. Jonah and the few like him, are fighting with help from an unlikely ally – a rogue Angel, named Gabriel.
In the crossfire between good and evil, love and hate, and life and death, the girl learns her name: Lailah. But when the lines between black and white begin to blur, where in the spectrum will she find her place? And with whom?
Gabriel and Jonah both want to protect her. But Lailah will have to fight her own battle to find out who she truly is.
At A Glance
I am a little conflicted.
The Good
You should read this book for the mythology and interesting backstories. Lailah is rich in colorful descriptions and interesting ideas. Kelly did a good job of creating a world that held my attention the whole way through. Though Lailah was not my favorite character, I liked her backstory and what she went through. What an emotional rollercoaster. Everyone was out to get her for something she had no control over. Totally unfair. Gabriel was a strong contender for Lailah’s heart. He was sweet but secretive. His story also made for some great surprises. Jacob was the bad boy. He wasn’t perfect, that’s for sure, but he kept things interesting with his naughtiness.
The action was well done, but it was the twists and turns that kept me on my toes. With each chapter a new secret was revealed and I was floored. I felt like I was taken through the ringer by the end. Lots of drama and betrayal to go around too. I like the direction the series is going.
The Bad
I am not all “Death to love-triangles” as a lot of book bloggers are. I can enjoy one if done right. But it was not done right in Lailah. Why? Because we have two guys (at one point we almost have three guys) falling in love with Lailah for NO REASON. It’s kind of like Edward falling in love with Bella in Twilight. She was so average and blah, there was nothing to like. Why the hell did Edward fall for her? Oh yeah, the enticing blood. Give me a break! It was the same for this book. Lailah is “different” so everyone must love her. But her “differentness” really doesn’t show up a lot in this book until the end. There was no spark that made Lailah interesting at all, especially to have so many guys’ attention. I want to see a funny girl, a kickass girl, a sweet as pie girl get all the guys, not a blah girl.
Lailah had such poor decision making skills that I almost stopped reading this book. At one point, a love interest sexual assaults her (in a minor way, but still) and she is terrified, but she lets it happen because she thinks she might like him. WTF? Then she is always throwing herself in harms way to “save her friends” but she can’t protect herself so she just ends up getting her friends more hurt. Biggest-eyeroll-ever!
The Snuggly
Again, worst love-triangle ever! Too much bad romance brought this book down. No sex but a lot of sexual situations and some cases of sexual assault.
Final Thoughts
I enjoyed myself for the most part, but I had so many problems with this book, I still don’t know how I feel about it. I am 50-50 on continuing the series. For now, I would recommend it to some people.
Quotes
About Nikki Kelly
I was born and raised only minutes away from the chocolately scent of Cadbury World in Birmingham, England. So it will probably come as no surprise that when I'm not dreaming in Vampires & Angels, I dream in chocolate! For the past ten years I have lived in West London with my hubby and two dogs, Alfie - the Pug & Goose - the Chihuahua.
LAILAH is my debut novel, and first launched in serial form to wattpad, a readers & writers community. Within just 6months, LAILAH had over a million reads and thousands of comments and votes.
Since then, The Styclar Saga has gone on to pick up a traditional deal with Feiwel & Friends, and LAILAH, the first book in the series is due for release on October 7th 2014.
These days I spend my time balancing my amazing job of writing fantasy fiction, with my other, very important role of Chocolate Connoisseur. I like to multitask and do the two together. It makes me happy.
Giveaway
Enter to win the Hardcover of Lailah by Nikki Kelly. Open to US only. Details on the rafflecopter.
Melliane
It sounds like an interesting one and I love the idea but well yeah a love triangle like that is annoying, I think it would have been the same for me…
Jennifer Bielman
It was disappointing for sure.
Nikki!
When I read the snuggly I had Lady Gaga’s bad romance roll through my head. I almost want to read this just to see how bad it is. But I really do hate books that leave me conflicted. I just read one recently like that but I think I’m gonna read the second one to see if it gets better or if I just want to throat punch the main characters and be done with it.
Jennifer Bielman
LOL, yes, throat punching might be the option for this book now that I think about it.
Jaclyn Canada
I am one of those people that are entirely sick of love triangles. I get that all romances need that conflict of some sort, but another interest for their romance is just getting old. I have let that fly though if it’s done well, and really it’s happening so much that if I didn’t let it slide, I wouldn’t be reading anything anymore. I love that the world created is so intricate and easy to dive into. I’m not so sure about having a main character that’s so hard to get behind though. Great review!
Jennifer Bielman
I agree, if we right off love triangles all together, there wouldn’t be much left to read.
Carmel @ Rabid Reads
I’m not quite sure how I feel about this one, on one hand I’m a mythology addict, and an action junkie, while as on the other, I abhor love triangles, and your ‘at a glance’ section doesn’t sound promising at all. I’m thinking that it’d be best if I skipped this book.
Jennifer Bielman
I know. I had trouble rating this book. It was almost rateless. Because it was pretty even in bads and goods, and I liked it but I didn’t like it.
Emily
Triangles always seem to add an elevated element of the story.
Jennifer Bielman
True.
Anna
Passing on this one. Thanks for the heads up. 😉
Anna from Shout with Emaginette
Jennifer Bielman
May be a good choice in the end.
braine
maybe shes wearing a new scent or her pheromones are extda strong… yeah i dont like another “improved” version of Bella and Edward.
Jennifer Bielman
It really was Bella and Edward all over again.
Giselle
I really wanted to love this one but I really didn’t. The romance was a bit reason. I didn’t get why they loved her either, and Jonah really creeped me out lol! Glad you liked it more than I did, though! I agree the descriptions were plentiful!
Jennifer Bielman
Yeah, I could see how the descriptions weighed down the plot, like you mentioned in your review, but they were also pretty interesting at certain parts. And Jonah was just beyond creepy.
Melanie (YA Midnight Reads)
Oh darn, I don’t think I wanna read a book where theres a really bad love triangle. I also hate it when there’s a romance and there’s no reason as to why they are even attracted to each other in the first place <.<
Lovely review, Jennifer! <33
Jennifer Bielman
It drives me bonkers when there is no reason for a couple to be together.
Chanzie @ Mean Who You Are
Hmm Sounds like the book had great potential but just missed the mark. I hope book 2 makes up for it’s shortfalls. Great review as always Jennifer 🙂
Jennifer Bielman
It did for the most part, but I can’t help but be happy I read it.
sherry fundin
We don’t choose who we love. What’s that saying – the heart wants what the heart wants? But, too much of a bad thing can kill a book. I do get tired of the triangle, but, like you said, if the story is good enough, I can overlook a lot too. I’ll be watching to see if you continue. 🙂 Have a great weekend, Jennifer.
Jennifer Bielman
It’s weird but I am still conflicted.