• Hook Value: 4
• Curious Nipple Quotient: 5
• Plot Rating: 4
• Predictability Rating: 4
• Series Score: 1:5, 2:4, 3:4
• Recommendation Value: 2
• Genre Score: 4 YA fant
• Emotion Warning: none. pretty standard coming of age with supernatural complications.

The first book of the Xoe Meyers series starts with a blaze, which carries through the rest of the series (or at least as far as I’ve read) in the form of a rollicking pace. However, having gone back to figure out the exact hook value I realised that this is not a book which wants you to think about it in depth. This is not a problem, except that the first page implies that there will be a period of self reflection at the end and I just don’t think it turned up the way it was imagined. For a self published ebook it shows a high level of proofreading and attention to detail.

While I enjoyed the story and do really want to read the next book in the series, the books aren’t original enough for me to need them. Not like I needed the next Harry Potter. or even like I need the next Throne of Glass novel. the premise is a little old and tired, however, I think that Roethle has created a fabulous set of characters and I really want to see how they’ll get out of the trouble they’ve been putting themselves in. this is why the plot and predictability ratings are as high as they are: although the situations are old hat, these are such fully realised characters that I’m happy to see their reactions because it’s like reading about friends.

I always find it difficult to rate the subsequent books that I read in an omnibus when it comes to how they fit in the series because I read them back to back. Instead of being separate and distinct items in my head, they blend together into one book. The subsequent titles end up like parts of the first. This was particularly obvious in this instance because of the way Roethle has plotted her books: each has a moderate to major cliffhanger for the next book. In fact, it is this quality (when combined with the lacklustre premise) that caused such a low recommendation value. When each book only serves as a vehicle to sell the next book, you wonder if the journey will be worth it in the end. I mean Xoe has a bunch of stuff to deal with, and each problem is getting bigger and bigger and each book teases you with the next calamity: how will the series end? Will she find out that she’s the prophesied one who must save the world from a madman? Will she have to destroy a ring and stop a war? Will she have to start a war? Where is this going? Will it be worth it? Even after 3 books I don’t have a satisfactory answer for my questions. And I’m not sure I will.

The google play books entry for this title lists several genres: fiction, fantasy, adventure, humorous, paranormal, romantic, YA. In that order. I thought that the fiction part was obvious and that the YA was at the wrong end. I would prefer YA, fantasy, paranormal-shifters -vampires, adventure, humorous, romantic. I’m tempted to remove the fantasy all together, to ensure that this sort of ‘coming of age with superpowers’ thing is kept separate from ‘peeps on horses with swords and magic’ stuff. This book doesn’t require any warnings. it’s a fairly ‘fluffy’ read that requires no great emotions on the part of the reader. It doesn’t stay with you, it’s not something that will haunt you. Unless you really need your vampires to sparkle. Or you are/were a teen werewolf yourself…

https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Sara_C_Roethle_The_Xoe_Meyers_Trilogy?id=ChW7CwAAQBAJ