Dangerous Deception (Dangerous Creatures)

I am such a huge fan of the Beautiful Creatures/Dangerous Creatures Novels. I have waited with baited breath to read the next installment. I literally counted down the months then days. However, while it was nice to see some of the old characters I felt this novel went in to many directions. I mean there was such a build up and journey to make Ridley who she was at the end of Dangerous Creatures- throughout the entire series that I felt this ending fell flat. I was also confused by it. Is the series over? It felt like all that struggle for an anticlimactic ending. This actually pains me as I am writing it because I am such a huge fan. just hoping there is another installment and this is just not the end. I'm sorry

Several reviews indicate some consternation about whether there will actually be a third book in this series. A few assume there won't be; others assume there will. I can't say for sure, of course, but I'll be shocked if there isn't. Maybe even a fourth. Dangerous Deception ends on as much of a cliffhanger as Dangerous Creatures did, and there's so much story yet to be told - especially for three characters in particular. And Stohl and Garcia have only said that there's no news as of *yet.*

All that's certain is how much has changed already, and how much more change is probably coming. But we saw a paradigm shift in the Beautiful Creatures books, one that Stohl and Garcia saw through to at least a reasonable point of closure... so I am strongly tempted to think we'll see the same in this series, which contains its own radical reordering of reality: not only what the breaking of the Order has meant for the basic nature of the balance, but also what it means for caster powers. How muddied things are really getting. How "things fall apart" and then rearrange. What the new constellations will look like, constellations which are still very much forming.

If I had to pick a theme for this book, it would be this: power corrupts. But the Pliny quote at the beginning of the book gives me hope that that isn't the end, much less a nihilistic end, of the tale - the fear I think some readers have found most incomplete and dismaying. We see the Death card appear. And as is said in the book, Death means transformation. We don't see that card until relatively late in the book, either - and I don't think it just refers to the climactic - or some would say anticlimactic - final scenes. Too much is still in flux.

That said, I won't personally be horrified if this *is* the close of the series. Yes, it would leave a lot of story untold. So what? Things change. Things are left unfinished. That doesn't mean there isn't more story. There's always more story. I've read numerous other tales where you want to know what happens next, but you don't find out. I'm weird, I know, but I don't find this to be a bad thing. Sure, I wish the book were there, or at least more chapters - but I wish that of every series with characters in it I love. But sometimes the story goes on without you. What matters more to me is the sense that it goes on. And this one definitely does. That's part of the reason I'm giving it a 5, despite a few places I found a bit too predictable or melodramatic or suffering from touches of non sequitur, plot-wise. Garcia and Stohl don't pull their punches. I admire that.

Frankly, I have to wonder if this is the end for Dangerous Creatures... and the beginning for a third series. I have a difficult time not seeing Ethan and Lena getting involved at some point. Don't tell me they haven't noticed their own rings freaking out, and haven't done anything about it. Don't tell me Macon and company are out to lunch on this one. Stohl and Garcia don't operate that way. And don't tell me Silas is so thick as to not anticipate how Ridley and Angelique have responded to the changes he's forced on them - and that includes at least some of the psychological ones. The Blood Incubi of Ravenwood understand power better than most - though also less than most, in essential ways. That didn't work out well for Abraham. I doubt it will for Silas either. Evil often has a significant hand in its own undoing.

As I said, power corrupts. That includes plans. I suspect, like the Tower card in the same spread as Death, that cataclysm is coming, and not just in the form of Angelique. I suspect a major battle between two characters. I suspect at least one other character may buy it during that conflict, one we don't want to see die, and we'll throw the book across the room at that point, but it'll be who that character has come to be, and probably always was... and anything less won't be true to that character. It may even turn the tide, and show once again that the seemingly smallest acts are actually the largest, the ripples that travel farthest.

I look forward to finding out just what happens with all those TPs Nox is still carrying around. What Ridley's surprise power is, and what all she acquired in the first round, never mind the second. And from whom, which we still don't know, and I suspect is important, since it certainly was for Angelique. And if the infusions carry their donor's personality even after the donor's passing - assuming the donor really has passed on - what or even who else is still, essentially, on the playing board?

And to be honest, I'm very much looking forward to how all this concatenates so as to bite Silas really hard in the ass. ;-) What can I say? Like the Beautiful Creatures books, Dangerous Creatures is proving to be a big cherry lollipop.
One final provocative question: the title. Just which "Deception" are we talking about, if not more than one? There was certainly more than one dangerous dream going on in book one....

Honestly wish I had waited until book 3 came out to read this one. I HATED the ending. Maybe it would be easier if I could immediately get resolution and find out what happens next, but right now, I hate this book. I likely won't even reread it before starting the 3rd. Quite disappointed, as I love Ridley and Link and I loved dangerous creatures. I've reread the beautiful creatures series multiple times, and dangerous creatures, but now I can't even bring myself to reread dangerous creatures, knowing this was what came next.

If you love Link, just don’t read it.

This whole series was just OK, and I’ll admit I was just reading them for the cheesy romance between Link and Ridley. I don’t think these books (I’m talking the whole Beautiful Series) are spectacularly written, I hate the villains (stock characters), and the plots are anything-goes.

In the end, I wish I’d never read this book. Even though I respect an ending where a character DOESN’T get what he/she wants, this didn’t even feel like and ending. Too many loose ends, too vague. It left me staring at the blank pages after it thinking, “Are you serious?”

Another great book by a talented duo. As with all teens, it's both sad and exciting to watch the characters become young adults. As the generation before them, Link, Ridley and friends must make choices that will form their futures, but they don't yet understand the full impact of their decisions. Can't wait to see what happens next!

I actually might love this series more than beautiful creatures! I'm a Scorpio and I always felt that the stories of the sirens in Greek mythology spoke to me. Scorpios are the sirens of the zodiac, so this series feels like it was written for me.

I love hearing Ridley's side of things, and her thought patterns seem so in tune with my own. I don't think I have ever related to a character more..

The way they spin this tale is mesmerizing. You can taste it on the tip of your tongue... In book one it was sugar and sweet, but this one tastes like power.. and it will leave you craving all that you can get ;)

(I purchased this myself!)

Dangerous Deception by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

http://www.kamigarcia.com

https://m.facebook.com/MargaretStohl?_rdr

Synopsis: In the sequel to Dangerous Creatures, Siren has gone missing after a massive car crash and her boyfriend is determined to find her. He suspects Silas Ravenwood and reconnects with his old band mates to find Siren. They uncover more than they bargained for once they find Silas labs and discover just what they're testing down there in New Orleans. Once Link finds Siren he realizes she's no longer the same girlfriend from before the crash and something terrible has gone wrong. The old band has no idea how to get her back.

Review: So I read this as a stand alone, even though it wasn't intended that way. I kind of have the feeling I was actually better off because I noticed a lot of Beautiful Creatures fans were disappointed (even distraught) over this book.

The book wasted no time and started off with a bang. Immediately drama, suspense and thrills followed. I felt my anxiety grew with this book and I almost felt like I was involved in a high-speed car chase. I had to read and keep reading and find out what's next.

I loved Link and the band mates. They are some creative characters with strong personalities. I actually loved the writing style and the plot line as well.

The ending felt dropped off. Like the authors got bored and just stopped. But it wasn't as disappointing or heartbreaking for me as those who were invested in the first book. The ending does leave the big question: Is this series over already? If they have another book they kind of have to pick up out of nowhere and it seems a little bizarre. Maybe there is some huge plot twist planned.

I gave the book 3⭐ because even though I wasn't two books in to the series, I was still invested and still felt disappointed by the ending.

I have a hard time making a recommendation for this book. I never write yes or no because personally I don't believe anyone should be told not to read a book. Instead I try to choose a target audience suitable for this read. So since I haven't read the first book I would assume those readers would want to read this book. I also think it is a good suspenseful romantic novel. If you enjoy drama and suspense I'd say give it a try but don't expect a big bang in the end.

Dangerous Deception by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (May 19, 2015). 334 pages. Fantasy, mystery, drama. I received an ARC through a Goodreads giveaway.

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Dangerous Deception (Dangerous Creatures)

Ridley has always been my favorite character from the beautiful creatures series and it hasn't changed going into these books ! Her Kiev for link and for being a dark caster is something I love about her. In book 2 she is taken my the last remaining evil ravenwood and used j. One of his many labs. Putting powers into other caster and seeing what happens. What happens to a girl who was neither good nor bad but Ridley ? What happens to a siren when more power is added , is the call to power to much ? This story was epic and cAnt wait for book 3 !

As always….a wonderful escape, and fun world to live in for the all-too-brief hours while reading any books in this series! Love them!

Way better then the first one. Loved it. Kept me wanting to read more and more.