First Days: The Ghost Bird Series: #2

This is one of those addictive series that you just cant put down, but the great thing is that the books are written and released very quickly, with at least two releases per year!The books have a female protagonist called Sang, who lives with her elder sister and parents. The books tell us that her mother is unwell, but apart from being mentally unstable I am not sure what her actual condition is. Sang’s mother forbids her daughters to interact with other people, scaring them with news stories about serial killers and rapists. As a result, Sang has never has a friend but at the same time she feels imprisoned by her mother’s watchful eyes and strict rules.The story begins when Sang sneaks out in the middle of the night to spend the night in an empty house. She intends to return home in the morning but wants to stay one night away from her house, by herself; free. Her plan doesn’t go to plan when she is attacked by a dog and the dog’s owner, a boy from her neighbourhood, helps Sang with her injuries. She’s scared of this stranger’s kindness, fearing that he has a secret agenda like her mother’s always told her about boys, but at the same time she cant help but trust him. Soon enough, Sang realises that her mother was wrong, and not everyone is evil.Sang becomes friend’s with her neighbour, Kota, and his group of friends and finds herself sneaking out to see them on a regular basis. What i liked about the book is that Sang, who is not used to holding hands, hugging, and any kindness altogether, is welcomed by this group of boys who all care for her as one of their own. In return, Sang is a loyal friend, knowing that they have their secrets but still trusting them with her own. She finds a comfort with her friends that she has never felt before.But there is more to the group than appears. These boys are from a private school called the Academy, and they are attending Ashley Waters on an important mission. Although Sang has become close to the group of seven boys, she is not allowed to know the Academy’s secrets. Since Sang is very close to the boys, she becomes a target when she attends the unruly school. Sang is so used to being invisible and unnoticed at her previous schools, that she finds the attention strange.I am really enjoying this series, and have just purchased the third book. Cannot wait to read more!Favourite quotes:"F*** yeah," Gabriel called out. "She's grounded.""No," I said. "I'm already grounded.""F*** you," he said. "You're double grounded.""I mean it," Gabriel said. "Do you know that girl that came after us nearly gave me a heart attack? She said Trouble's in trouble. Again. Second time in a week. And what do I see when we get to the hallway? Trouble jumping from the f***ing second floor, does a barrel roll and hobbles up to get back into the fight. And then I get up to the second floor, and you're on top of some mother****er on top of Silas. You took on the whole goddamn school. F***ing beautiful. So that's like quadruple grounding because you went in twice. I swear if you go over that balcony again, I'm going to break your damn feet so you can't go anywhere near it."

Now that I have caught my breath, I think I can do this review logically.I go book one for review from netgalley and the ending left me and knots and with needs that drove me to purchase the next two books. I didn't even look at price I just hit 'buy now' and dove right back in.I kinda don't know where to begin because I read this book so fast and with such frantic need that I have to collect the jumbled emotions that are still simmering below the surface.Sang--as a character I get it. I know why she is the way she is looking in at her entire situation as an adult. I know that she could possibly be changed for years because of what she has dealt with and what life handed her. We still don't totally know what drives her mother. I just can't believe that logically getting 'sick' would turn the mother into a wannabe version of Sybil's mother. She literally wants to hurt Sang, make her suffer, and beat her until she is a void shell of a person. I think considering she is doing very well especially considering the fact how overwhelming her 'boys' are. I call them Sang's because they are. Every single one of them is Sang's.That brings me too:KotaLukeNathanGabrielVictorSilasNorthOr as I like to call them: Sang's BoysLet's face it, all the people doing reviews saying this isn't a romance and there is no romance its 'friendship' is in denial. The author did a great job at writing each individual scene with Sang and the boys and telling the story of their relationship growth without making you vomit.It is intense, it is volatile, and it is in a way healthy for Sang. Each of them collectively make a whole, perfect man. They all have amazing attributes that seem to push Sang closer to a form of recovery. I would like her to have more contact with Mr. Blackbourne and Dr. Green, only because I believe she needs their words and their truths to guide her. The boys are so wrapped up in her ultimate protection and just wanting to be with her that they lose what she really needs--therapy. I'm a bit shocked no one has brought it up to be honest.All I know is when I read these books, I literally feel the book in my system. From my head to the my toes I'm physically and emotionally affected. I want this to work.At this point I'm #TeamSilas #TeamNorth (They are the big strong bad boys that's why lol)

I’m continuing to love Sang and the gentlemen, and their evolving relationships and trust. This book series is definitely slow burn, but it has completely got all the feels and all the plot!!! This is the second book, but there’s already a lot going on plot-wise, and I’m so invested in it all! Can’t wait to read the next!

I'm about halfway through this second book in the series but couldn't wait to share my thoughts. I don't think any of the men are at all likeable and Kota and his gang are disrespectful of personal boundaries the way they are always touching Sang from the moment they've met her, I hope any young women reading these books don't think that is appropriate behaviour in real life. I also find Kota et al to be very controlling, grabbing at Sang because they don't like her hair. Though not a sexual story it does seem to portray a very weak and submissive young woman dominated and controlled by numerous men which I find off putting. Sang's mother is just plain awful with seemingly no redeeming attributes and Sang's father is barely there at all. Despite this I am very intrigued to find out what the big secrets are and want to continue with the series though I hope it's not a disappointing cliche such as vampires.So as long as you don't take it all too seriously it is a fun mystery story and I'm sure you'll get addicted.

First Days is definitely better than Introductions. More things actually happen in this book and the mystery is built further. The characters are still the best thing about the book. There are not one but NINE gorgeous guys and I'm not sure who I like the most. Probably either Kota or North, or maybe Blackbourne, or Luke :P Don't worry though, this book isn't some crazy giant love triangle and the focus is on friendship rather than romance.This book answers some of the questions brought up in book one but in a way that only creates more questions. If you don't like spending a good portion of a book not knowing what is going on, then this series probably isn't for you.The revelations at the end made me even more eager to find out more. I need to know exactly what the academy is and also what is going on with Sang's family. Luckily book 3 will apparently be released by the end of August so I don't have too long to wait.

As soon as I finished book 1 I downloaded the other three (at the time) knowing I was hooked. I am writing this having read all four books (so far) and knowing how each one develops the characters. It was well worth investing the time reading.I would never want to ruin anyones enjoyment by telling the story so my review doesn't tell you anything about the story. Suffice to say the author develops the characters in a beautiful way and it is well worth continuing reading the series......

I was immediately hooked on this series. The writing is excellent and the plot intriguing. As the series moves on you find out a little bit more about the characters and why they do the things they do. The Academy boys are drawn to Sang and are almost over protective and after the life Sang has had,it isjust what she needs and soaks up the attention. Her Mother is ill but won't let Sang or her sister out or associate boys and is very cruel.Definitely recommend this series

Not my favorite in the genre, but still a good book. I liked Sang and you can't help but feel sorry for her. Some of the boys are easier and better to understand than the others, but overall the sense of family is overall what everyone wants.