Review: Crushed by Eliza Crewe

August 9, 2014 5 stars, Book Review 24 ★★★★★

Review: Crushed by Eliza CreweCrushed by Eliza Crewe
Series: Soul Eaters #2
Published by Strange Chemistry on August 5, 2014
Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal, Young Adult
Format: eBook
Source: Publisher
Goodreads
My Reviews in this series: Cracked

*This book was provided by the Publisher for review. No compensation was provided and all opinions are strictly my own.

Meda’s back. This time, she has a friend.

The battle is over; the choice has been made. Meda Melange has officially hung up her monstrous mantle and planted her feet firmly on the holy and righteous path of a Crusader-in-training. Or, at least, she’s willing to give it a shot. It helps that the Crusaders are the only thing standing between her and the demon hordes who want her dead.

The problem is, the only people less convinced than Meda of her new-found role as Good Girl are the very Crusaders she’s trying to join. So when a devilishly handsome half-demon boy offers escape, how’s a girl supposed to say “no?”

After all, everyone knows a good girl’s greatest weakness is a bad boy.

five-stars

I’m a little torn on what to rate Crushed based on that ending. For originality, I just have to give it a high rating. This story is so unique and twisty-turney that I couldn’t help but be a little surprised (especially toward the end).

Meda is still the same badass as before. The romance (even though may seem heavy) is actually pretty light. They come off as flirty friends, that’s all. I’ve learned to not expect so much from a sequel in case I get disappointed, but here are a list of “Dos” and “Don’ts” to shed some clarity:

DON’T: Change the writing style. The people liked it in the first book, so why the heck would you want to change it up on them?
DO: Keep the writing pace and style like the first one…only this time, make it so the reader has no idea what the hell is going to happen. So that they go, “AH! What side are these people on anyway?” and be just as confused as the main character. Or be like Meda whose fine being independent.

DON’T: Make it all about the love or make the heroine go dumbass for a hot boy. Please, we’ve seen this crap way too many times.
DO: Show the relationship grow into something and let the MC figure it out on her own. I loved their dialogue!! There were so many conversations I HAD to highlight!

“But he turns long-lashed eyes on me, full of entreaty, as if he were saying: please, please let me come murder the molester with you. How do you say ‘no’ to eyes like those? They are a magical combination of sex and puppy.

Better than it sounds, I promise”

DON’T: Cause useless stupid problems between friendships for no reason at all but to cause some drama in the story (or in some cases fill the whole story with drama between friends).
DO: Show the MC struggling between friends and drama that isn’t useless but entails a person’s survival. Then, show the power and growth of friendship…something more interesting and meaningful than just “Omigerd, look at that hot guy.” “He’s mine” “No, I saw him first!” “Eff you” “We can’t be friends anymore” *goes to compete to see who gets the guy first*

DON’T: Keep the story peachy, light, and filled with love.
DO: Keep the story bitter, dark, and filled with humor.

Who cares about love? I just want to see Meda tear up some assholes.

“I am Meda Melange, demon-saint monster girl. I make full-grown men scream in terror. I break bones and drain blood. I turn nightmares into reality.”

DON’T: Make the girl weaker than the boy and more inclined to save him over the world.
DO: Make the girl a strong-badass-bitch who’s more inclined to save her own life and show her thought process on whether or not other people are worth saving.

Just read it. If you loved the first, you’ll love the second and it is in NO WAY a letdown.

Kat Stark

Kat Stark

Guest reviewer
Kat Stark

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24 Responses to “Review: Crushed by Eliza Crewe”

  1. Lola @ Hit or Miss Books

    Hey love! You know what? I haven’t read this review! Because, when I finished book 1, I wanted the story of book 2 to be a surprise. So I won’t read your review. Just kidding, your review is perfect since it absolutely doesn’t spoil anything. It just promots Meda and her badass skills and attitude. Mouahah, I love the girl 🙂 I can’t wait to know more about the romance, yum though I HOPE it will be light indeed. Ugh excited!!
    Lola @ Hit or Miss Books recently posted…Review of Orphan Blade by M. Nicholas Almand and Jake MylerMy Profile

    • Kat

      I try not to spoil things when it comes to reviews. Sometimes I don’t even talk about the plot, and I just talk about my feels 😀 Anyway, yes if you loved the first you’ll like this one. Just know that the romance is very unexpected. It’s one of those things were you like it or you don’t. In this case I did, because it’s something I haven’t read before.
      Kat recently posted…Ugly LoveMy Profile

  2. Melliane

    oh it’s a fun review. I heard so many great things about the series and I confess that I’m quite curious ro read it and discover its originality. I’m glad you had a good time with it again. Great review!
    Melliane recently posted…Stacking the Shelves #104My Profile

    • Kat

      Thanks! I usually like doing fun reviews. They’re not too informative, but I hate giving everything away when I love a series. This one I happen to love 🙂
      Kat recently posted…Ugly LoveMy Profile

    • Kat

      I read your review a while ago and I didn’t know what your qualms were, but I really liked the first. The second was better for sure though, in terms of plot, but also in twists. I like me some twists and this one had a big one at the end that I didn’t see coming and honestly…I haven’t seen it in the YA genre.
      Kat recently posted…Ugly LoveMy Profile

      • Tabitha (Pabkins)

        Oh yeah I didn’t really have any qualms that I can remember. I figure I read so many YA books each year and almost every single one of them is the start of a trilogy or series so I have to pick and choose which to continue in order to still be able to fit new first books into my reviewing schedule. I used to finish everything once I started back before book blogging, but I can’t anymore =)
        Tabitha (Pabkins) recently posted…Review: Visions by Kelley ArmstrongMy Profile

        • Kat

          Yeah, I’m starting to see that now. I have like a stack of books to read and it’s hard to try and fit them all in. I keep looking at the stack and it’s not going down. You read one and you get 5 more, lol! I can’t imagine how many stacks you have!
          Kat recently posted…Wishing Stars: Space Opera FairytalesMy Profile

    • Kat

      Well…read Tabitha’s review for the first and if it puts you off then I wouldn’t bother. But, I will say that I thought the second was better than the first.
      Kat recently posted…Ugly LoveMy Profile

    • Kat

      Aweee thank you so much! I’m usually so disappointed by sequels and trilogies and whatnot. The series tends to go downhill. I don’t know if the author loses interest or changed their perspective but it happens all the time.
      Kat recently posted…Ugly LoveMy Profile

  6. Faye @ The Social Potato

    I want to read this mainly because Khanh praises it so much. When she gives 5 stars, I know it’s going to be so badass because she’s highly critical. I’m so glad to see that the second book continues to be as awesome as the first. 4.5 is so high! AND YES! Don’t let the story center on the guy, to the point that he becomes first priority and the world is just a bonus. That would suck big time!
    Faye @ The Social Potato recently posted…Random Things in Motion #7: Would you be selfish… in a post-apocalyptic situation?My Profile

    • Kat

      Did you see her review for the second? We pretty much agree with all points, Khanh is awesome 😀 We do disagree though, BUT NOT WITH THIS ONE. It’s really that good–we both gave it 5’s on GR.

      ANYWAY, it definitely has more romance but believe me, it’s not what you think. It’s a different take (especially in a YA) that’s for sure.
      Kat recently posted…Ugly LoveMy Profile

    • Kat

      Thanks Jess! 😀 I’m actually not sure if you would like Meda or not and it all matters if you like her pretty much. She’s such a snarky character (and some people get annoyed by that).
      Kat recently posted…Ugly LoveMy Profile

    • Kat

      Oh my, I feel you on that one. I have TOO MANY to read this week. I feel so swamped, but happy at the same time.
      Kat recently posted…Ugly LoveMy Profile

  9. Kirsty-Marie

    Yes! I knew I should’ve picked it up when I had the chance, I’ll just have to go buy it now. I was a bit 50/50 since I didn’t want to ruin it since I really enjoyed the first. Since it was pretty badass, and loved how Meda wasn’t really on anyone’s side bar her own, and how that grew with the other characters, and still, I didn’t know what she’d do, haha. So glad it holds the same atmosphere as the first. 🙂
    Kirsty-Marie recently posted…Review: Amity (Just Say No)My Profile

    • Kat

      Definitely the same atmosphere. And in the first one you must have read that surprising but sad twist at the end. There’s another one in book two, (not too sad, but shocking in a sense). You’ll either love or hate it, but I thought it was a pretty good sequel.
      Kat recently posted…Ugly LoveMy Profile

  11. Kel (Booked til Tuesday)

    I was wondering whether the ARC’s of this had gone out already (and whether the book would still be released this year) since Strange Chemistry folded. The first book didn’t really work for me, but I’m glad you loved the second! Great review!
    Kel (Booked til Tuesday) recently posted…Updates: Family & Book BuyingMy Profile

    • Kat

      Thank you! Actually, she’s working on publishing it but it might be at a later date and if she’s forced to she might just self-publish. If anyone is interested. Either way, I hope she does 🙂
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