This book was just as good as the first...an almost impossible feat of a love story and historical drama (mixed with some "current" day events) that you literally cannot stop reading. The amazing adventures of Claire and Jamie that just never seem to end. And the amazing thing is that you don;t want them too. They are such wonderful characters that even though sometimes you wonder how likely it is that all these things could happen to two people, you overlook it because all you want is more.

Wonderfully original and entertaining story. I really did enjoy the mix of deep Southern culture and magic. The characters were well done and the details of each part of the story fit together very well and you could tell the work that went into that. I think a few times the fact that this is a young adult book did shine through, some of the dialogue and a few cheesy parts. But really, you cannot read a book like this and not expect some of that. I was impressed how under control the authors kept those parts, to be honest. I think the term "caster" was fantastic and really not something I have ever heard before, so that was very refreshing. All in all, solid read. I'm on the wait-list at the library for the movie and the second book!

It was good, but not quite as good as the first one. I think this falls into the teenage fantasy series trap of needing to just get us through to the next one, but is a little slow because the first and last books get all the action. In that regard, the action plot, I think the authors did do a great job moving the story along. Also, I loved the introduction of Liv as a character. However, the teen angst love story was what frustrated me. It always happens that when the characters get together at the end of the first book, the second one will have somthing that tears them apart...in this case pretty shallow teen jealousy (granted the characters are teens) and sort of falling for other people because their soulmate "just doesn't get them." My frustration is always that "soulmates" shouldn't let go quite so easily. However, all in all I did enjoy the book and I do plan to read the next one.