Commencement (Hellsbane, #0.5) by Paige Cuccaro

Commencement (Hellsbane, #0.5) Reviews

• 
  Saralee

  Emma Jane Hellsbane is a college student with a major problem on her hands. No, it's not that she can just look at another person and feel their emotions as if they were her own -- she's always been able to do that.
  
  Her problem is that her soccer-star boyfriend is possessed. What's a girl gonna do?
  
  This story, "Commencement," is a fun, fast-paced introduction to the Hellsbane novels. Emma is a likeable heroine who finds the inner resources to battle a nasty supernatural enemy, with the help of her teen-genius friend Mihir. The story has plenty of action and excitement. Some moments reminded me of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and fans of that series will enjoy Hellsbane's combination of supernatural adventure, romance and humor.
• 
  Ana Millet

  It was a wonderful novella and I enjoy it so much. I recommend this book to everyone to read it you will not regret it.
• 
  Molly

  This book was amazing! I would recommend it to anyone who loves a suprise ending! From the very first page I was hooked! I can't wait to read more by Paige Cuccaro!
• 
  A Voracious Reader (a.k.a. Carol)

  3.5
  
  *Book source ~ Many thanks to Entangled Publishing for providing a review copy in exchange for an honest review.
  
  Emma Jane Hellsbane is different than her fellow college students. Not only can she sense other people’s emotions, but she experiences them, too. She’s had to work to keep feelings not her own at bay, but sometimes they overwhelm her. When her boyfriend Justin suddenly doesn’t feel right to her, she seeks help from the one person who she can talk to and not expect him to call her a freak. Mihir is a fifteen-year-old genius, a Junior in college and his family believes in all things mystical. So, even though he hates Emma’s boyfriend because he’s lusting after Emma himself, he’s there to help her figure out what is wrong with Justin. What’s wrong with Justin is way creepy and dangerous. It’s up to a skeptical Emma to save the day.
  
  A good start to a new series this short introduces us to Emma and her freaky ability to sense and feel the emotions of others. Even though she has been able to do this since she could remember, she has a hard time believing Mihir when he starts tossing out ideas as to what is wrong with Justin. I was irritated with her at this point. She’s living with some weird ability and yet she completely doesn’t believe anything else weird is out there? Give me a break. I’d be more apt to believe all kinds of stuff rather than bury my head in the sand and pretend the boogeyman isn’t out there. Other than that though I enjoyed the introduction to the Hellsbane series. Oh, and Justin? He’s an idiot that got what he wished for even if it wasn’t quite how he wanted it.
  
• 
  Darkfallen

  This is one of those novellas that is packed full of everything that makes a great read. I loved this book so much I couldn't put it down, and now I can't wait to get my hands on the first book in this series.
  
  Em is in her senior year of college and she has the best friend, the boyfriend, and these freaky powers that allow her to feel other people's emotions. On most days she tries to block them out but the day that she gets this weird vibe from her perfect boyfriend she knows there is something wrong. Rather than ignore it, like she wants to do, she dives in to paranormal detective mode to figure out just what exactly is going on here. Although she just might get more than she bargained for...
  
  Like I said I just couldn't put this book down. Em is funny, witty, and just an all around fun character. I loved her and her best friend. Em had me laughing out loud on more than one occasion. The writing was impeccable, which I was so thankful for since it seems I've been stuck reading bad book after back book lately. Commencement broke me out of my reading slump!
  
  I don't want to spoil the story but I will never look at jinni's the same way again! Overall this was a great, fun filled read, that I couldn't get enough of!
• 
  Crystal

  Commencement is a good introduction to the Hellsbane series and the characters of Emma Jane and I hope Mihir. It's short, but it leaves you anxious to start the series which I think is just the point of this novella.
  
  Even though it is short, it is action-packed which I think leads the way for a very interesting series. I also like the brief glimpse into Emma Jane and Mihir who I think will be great characters. Both are snarky, smart and fun. Emma Jane being the main character and older and Mihir is the side-kick geeky one who can provide the information and of course the crush on Emma as well. They have a fun friendship that I think will be great for the books that is why I am hopeful he will continue to be in the novels. The story in this novella provides both the interesting character development I look for (within the limited format) and the action-packed plot. It was a fast-paced read that had me flipping the pages on my Kindle non-stop until the end and then wanting the next book as soon as it was over.
  
  If you want a great introduction to a new paranormal/urban fantasy new adult series, then this is it. I cannot wait for the first book in this series and to learn more about Emma Jane, her powers and what evils she will face.
• 
  Charlie

  Commencement is a prequel novella starring the empathic character, Emma Jane Hellsbane. Releasing a prequel has its advantages and disadvantages. It's a great way to set up a series and also, for the reader, to get more than a synopsis to see if they'll like the storyline and writing style. However, on the other hand, it is shorter than the average book, this one being 50 pages, and some might feel a bit ripped on page length, but hey, it's free over at Amazon Kindle, so what do you have to lose? I prefer to think of it as a genius showcasing of an upcoming series. You get more than a back cover blurb to base your decision on. How awesome is that? I must also mention that Cuccaro provides the full meal deal with this gem. It truly is a compact story, as well as, a thorough buzz for the series. And yep, when I was finished, I went right to the Kindle Store to get the first book. Got me hook, line and sinker! Thankfully, there was no big cliff hanger that left me clinging by my fingernails, but rather an ending with an obvious continuation that begged for me to read more. I felt like I was just getting to know Emma and I can't wait to see what comes next!
• 
  Beth

  Emma Jane Hellsbane has a boyfriend named Justin that she loves, she is graduating college in a few days and a best friend named Mihir. Emma can also feel others emotions, not sense them she really feels them.
  
  One night when Emma is with Justin she feels an evil presence. At first, she thinks it’s coming from Justin but Mihir mentions it might be a possession. Emma, with Mihir’s help, must solve the mystery of this menacing spirit effecting Justin.
  
  Commencement is the first in Hellsbane Series. Novella in length but still manages to pack a punch. Action, adventure, mystery and heart ache, Commencement had it all. 5 stars
  
  This copy of Commencement was given to me by Netgalley and Entangled Publishing, LLC in exchange for an honest review. Published October 22, 2012.
  
  For more reviews check out
  http://tometender.blogspot.com
• 
  Tee loves Kyle Jacobson

  Commencement is a short Novella that is packed with punch. Man when I started reading it I did not want to put it down. Emma is in her senior year at college and she has the best friends and boyfriend a girl can ask for. She also has these freakish powers where she can feel peoples emotions and intentions. So when he boyfriend starts acting weird and she can feel those dark emotions she knows there is something wrong with him.
  
  What she will uncover will rock her world because she will have to fight this evil that has taken a hold of her boyfriend and other boys at the college. The saying be careful what you ask for is so true in this case and Emma will have to fight hard for Justin. This novella is a great beginning to a new series called The Hellsbane Series that is a must read!
• 
  Shari

  Be careful what you wish for! This prequel to the awesome Hellsbane series is a quick, fun read. Characters are well defined and interesting, and it's a well told story that will have you turning pages and devouring it whole in one sitting. Kind of like a wickedly delicious dessert, but without the sugar crash later.
  
  You should read it too. Now. Go now. I'll wait.
• 
  Tia

  Kind of amateurish to me. I mean the story was alright but I have to wonder if the author will write better for the novel that is actually part of the series. I found certain things a little too unbelievable, especially about the end, to do with Justin.
• 
  Laura Nedley

  This book might be short but it's packed with excitement! The author, Paige Cuccaro, writes with enthusiasm and all her books will keep you wanting more!
• 
  Jennifer Strand

  I crave a good novella. Generally speaking, there's a lot of action and you can learn a lot about a character in a pretty short amount of time. Unfortunately, this one fell a little short for me.
  
  This was my first introduction to Emma Hellsbane and the world she lives in. I've not read any other books in this series and I feel like that's okay based on the fact that novella is marked as book #0 in the series. I do wonder if I would have felt differently about this novella had I read Hellsbane (Hellsbane #1) prior to reading this story. Keep that in mind when you read about the things that didn't sit right with me.
  
  There is a lot of repetition in the first few chapters. Like, a lot of repetition. A lot. The length of the first two chapters could really be cut in half. This might not normally be a big deal, but it rubbed me the wrong way right off the bat and it took me another few chapters to get out of the self imposed funk I felt. Had this been a novel, I might have forgotten about this irritation but the short length of the novella didn't allow me time to pull up my big girl pants and "get over it". That, coupled with an ending that felt way too rushed for me, is what stopped me from enjoying this story as much as I could have. (I seriously thought my copy of this novella was missing the last few pages. It wasn't.)
  
  There were some good things about this story, for sure! Most importantly, it's well written and the naturally, easy going conversation between the characters, Emma and Mihir especially, make it a quick read. The voice is authentic. Emma is a nineteen year old college senior and Mihir is a fifteen year old college freshmen. Young college students that behave in the exact way you'd expect them to.
  
  This story scores big time when it comes to action. While I never really felt the love for Justin, I did buy into the idea that Emma loves him. But only because I was told so. Just didn't get to know Justin outside his "ordeal" to know what kind of guy he really is, you know?
  
  While I'm not chomping at the bit to pick up the next book in this series, I am most certainly not writing it off completely. Emma is a likable heroine and while I don't understand the ins and outs of her supernatural power, I am intrigued enough to continue on to book number one. Eventually.
• 
  Lori {Romancing the Dark Side}

  A fun introduction to the world of Emma Jane Hellsbane!
  
  Sensing others emotions is an ability that college student Emma Jane Hellsbane wish she didn't have. When she suspects her hot, soccer player boyfriend Justin is being possessed by a vengeful entity, Emma turns to the only person that knows of her secret, her teenage friend Mihir. Together, they devise a plan to save Justin and the student body from the soul stealing villain that will change the course of Emma's life as she knows it.
  
  When we meet Emma in Commencement, she's a college student who's about to graduate. She's a strong young woman with a pure heart that is trying to understand her gift while living a "normal" life. I love her curiosity of the supernatural (as if her abilities aren't proof enough!) and determination to triumph over evil, even when faced with betrayal. Her BFF Mihir is quirky and a fun, teen-wiz who leaves his mark with his charming personality. Emma steps into the heroine role flawlessly and gives us a glimpse of the future butt kicking woman she'll become. We get to see her character not only grow, but find a purpose by the story's end.
  
  This prequel to the Hellsbane series gives you enough back story and character development without overwhelming. The story flows with a solid plot, a little mystery and humor. The dangerous world of the supernatural Ms. Cuccaro has created and Emma Jane Hellsbane's sassy personality are the perfect pairing!
  
  {ebook courtesy of author via Entangled Publishing for review.}
  
  Original Romancing the Darkside Review:
  
  http://romancingthedarkside.blogspot....
• 
  All Things Urban Fantasy

  Review courtesy of
  All Things Urban Fantasy See site review for similar titles
  
  Like many fans of this genre, Buffy the Vampire Slayer was my gateway drug to the world of urban fantasy. So whenever I come across a book that is reminiscent of Buffy, or pays homage to the series, I get happy, happy, happy. Paige Cucarro’s Hellsbane series does both, and it does them well.
  
  In this prequel novella, set five years before HELLSBANE, the first full length novel in the series, empath Emma Jane is a young college student with a genius best friend Mihir (think Buffy’s Giles combined with Willow–he’s in love with her so add Zander into the mix too). Emma has had to learn to block her empathic abilities, but strong emotions still leak through like when her soccer star boyfriend starts feeling homicidal towards her. A when bodies start pilling up on campus, Emma has to embrace the gift she’s spent her life blocking.
  
  In just 50 pages, Cucarro packed more character development and plot into this novella than many other authors do will full novels. COMMENCEMENT read like a lost episode of Buffy with clever dialog, metaphorical mythology, big bad villains and even bigger heroines. This looks like a series to watch. The first full novel in the Hellsbane series is called HELLSBANE and was just released. It’s already on my kindle.
  
  Sexual Content:
  Kissing. References to sex
• 
  Kate

  I was surprised by how much I enjoyed reading this introduction to the Hellbane series considering my usual dislike for novellas. It’s short and sweet but we get to see a great snapshot of Emma Jane at 19 – intelligent, caring and determined to help those she cares about.
  
  With computer savvy boy genius Mihir at her side, Emma tries to work out what’s bothering her boyfriend and first true love, soccer star frat boy Jason never realizing that it’s more than anything she’s seen before. Her empath’s gift is telling her that this is an evil beyond anything she’s ever considered to be real. Jason has found himself a Jinn and not even Emma can come between him and his wishes.
  
  Plot wise – well… there’s not all that much that can happen in 87 pages especially when so much character development is occurring. But I really liked how the characters were detailed. Emma is interesting and Mihir? I’d love to read more about him and his practitioner of the Dark Arts grandmother. The many pop-culture references were another plus in Commencement‘s favour for me. – seriously, Mihir wants to be Giles to Paige’s Buffy?
  
  The first book in the Hellsbane series starts five years after this novella and would not count as young adult fiction since Emma is then 24 but I think that this is a series I could definitely fall in love with.
• 
  Valerie

  3 stars- A good intro into this world
  
  Emma is different and while she doesn't know why, she also doesn't share the information with others. Well, except for Mihir. In this short intro into the world of Emma Hellsbane, she really figures out that there is more to her than just being different. She may not be human.
  
  This is exactly what a intro novella is supposed to be about. It introduces the main character and starts the world building. Hopefully, it also buildings a connection with the main character so you want to pick up the next book. I think that may be where my problem came in. At first, I liked Emma well enough but something happened and I can't tell you what without spoiling things that made me just feel, um, meh about her. I love Mihir a lot especially after reading the alternative POV scene that I had on my blog last week. But Emma, not so much.
  
  So the true test of a intro novella is the question, will you read the next book? My answer? Maybe. I want to know more about Mihir so I might. But it could come down to time. Will I make time for it? Not sure.
• 
  Mlpmom (Book Reviewer)

  I love prequels because it always gives you that feel for the author's writing style, the characters and setting of the story and a feel for a series in general.
  
  Most times you can tell just by reading one whether you even want to give the series a try. Do you like the characters? Was it engaging enough to make you want to buy the first book? Can you relate at all to the storyline?
  
  I can say without a doubt that I loved Emma the main character. Her unique ability that she is still learning about, per strong personality, her witty humor. This story grabbed my attention form the very first page and I read the whole thing in one sitting. In fact, I was sad to see it end. I wanted more.
  
  There was action and mystery and a great secondary character named Mihir that I really hope we will be seeing more of in the first book.
  
  Yep, I will certainly be picking up the first book on release day. I think this is going to be a fantastic series.
  
• 
  Karin Shah

  Commencement by Paige Cuccaro is a fun introduction to the world of Emma Jane Hellsbane, Nephilim.
  We first meet Emma as a senior in college. She's got all the things a senior needs, including a hunky boyfriend. But Emma has one thing a senior can do without, she can feel emotions. When Justin, her boyfriend starts acting strange and she feels a wave of slimy hatred from him, she begins to suspect something is seriously wrong. She discovers that Justin is possessed by a Jinni. And the evil creature will do anything to own Justin's body.
  
  Although the novella is short, there's plenty of action as Emma fights to save Justin's soul. The characters are quirky and well drawn, and I highly recommend this introduction to the Hellsbane universe.
  
  I plan to buy the first novel in the series and I highly recommend that you could too!
• 
  Paris

  Prior to reading this novella, I had never read anything by Paige Cuccaro. At times I felt like I was missing something, which made me wonder if maybe reading Hellsbane before reading this prequel would have helped. I kinda sorta liked Emma. There were moments that I thought she had kick butt potential and then other times where she sounded like a whiney high schooler even though she was in college. Her boyfriend Justin seemed like a total douche, even with the nice lunch with his little sister that I think was supposed to make us like him and her best friend Mihir was actually pretty annoying in his limited role.
  
  The ending was fairly interesting, but I don’t think I will be reading anything else in this series. I just didn’t connect to the character or the storyline, but it was otherwise decently written.
  
  Arc provided by the publisher via Netgalley
  
• 
  Dani C. (Polly's Place)

  Commencement is a short and interesting intro into a New Adult paranormal/fantasy series. I am very impressed with how well the story was written. It was just enough to leave you wanting more.
  
  Emma Jane Hellsbane is in collage and is going to be graduating soon. Her best friend Mihir is a quirky and super smart teen and he knows her secret. A secret she has not told her almost perfect boyfriend Justin. That secret is that she can feel the emotions of others.
  
  Soon she starts feeling strange emotion coming from Justin. After talking with Mihir she comes to realized that Justin may just be possessed…
  
  This prequel is just the right length to help you get started in what I hope is going to be a fun and entertaining new series.
• 
  Jasmyn

  A short and sweet prequel to the Hellsbane series. This was a cute introduction to Emma Jane Hellsbane and her special power of empathy. When she "feels" something is wrong with her boyfriend, she never suspected it might be a form of possession, but it looks like the supernatural world has just decided to make itself know to her.
  
  It was a great lesson in wanting things you didn't work for and not pissing off your supernatural girlfriend. Emma manages to save the day overall, but Justin pays an interesting price for his selfishness. I'm currently reading book 1 in the series and this does seem like a great introduction to the character, although it was just too short to get really involved. - See more at:
  http://hotofftheshelves.blogspot.com/...
• 
  Cherie

  The paranormal edges its way into Emma Jane Hellsbane’s world in Commencement by Paige Cuccaro.
  
  Emma Jane is sassy, smart, and sarcastic. Her voice in the novella drew me in. I love how Cuccaro used Mihir, a computer genius, to introduce the paranormal world to Emma Jane. Mihir seems so unlikely, but his family’s background makes him the perfect choice. The paranormal world building sets up the Emma’s story for more to come as well as moves the fast-paced plot.
  
  For a novella, the story is to the point, but Commencement by Paige Cuccaro is the perfect teaser for the Hellsbane novels to come.
• 
  Big Dee

  What's Not To Like? Commencement was like Chinese food. An hour later you want more. The intro to the Hellsbane series definitely left me wanting more. I was curious to see what else Emma Jane Hellsbane would get into. It's also interesting to see where an author will take a story when you see that he or she does not play favorites or by anyone's rules but their own. An example is Emma Jane's efforts to save a lying, cheating boyfriend. It could have turned into just another happily ever after story but author Paige Cuccaro seemed to have other ideas.
  
  I found Commencement well worth the read and couldn't wait to move onto the second book in the series.
• 
  Leigh Anne

  This was a great little novella. The author did a nice job of building my interest in the characters in such a short time. This story captured my attention right from the beginning, and left me wanting more. I'm looking forward to checking out the series, and seeing what happens next with Emma Jane!
• 
  Cana Elene (http://placeofreeds.blogspot.com)

  Review will be available on December 30, 2012 at
  Place of Reads Book Review Blog
• 
  Marie33

  Book provided by publisher.
  
  I thought this was quite an interesting read. Although short it had a good plot and likable characters. I look forward to reading more in this series
• 
  VampireNovelFan

  Very good for a novella. I think I'll add the series to my TBR.