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Distraction by [a:Angela McPherson|7074174|Angela McPherson|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1367446260p2/7074174.jpg] follows the story of Tristan and Elle, two best friends who have been keeping secret their feelings for each other. The story starts with Tristan the football star. He has recently accepted a transfer to Texas Tech to be closer to his fiancé (and Elle). Elle, head over heels in love with Tristan, is just excited that he is coming for a visit. At least she was until he sprung on her his transfer and engagement. Forced to be near each other, Tristan and Elle must confess their feelings or risk losing each other forever.
I cannot express just how much I loved this story!!! Tristan and Elle are so well written I half expected to meet them on the street. Elle Richards is your typical college girl. She attends classes and works hard for every cent she's earned. She joined a sorority to appease her friend Alyssa. She dates, but nothing serious. Why? Because she is in love with her best friend who is miles away at another college. Tristan Daniels is a college football star, the typical jock and womanizer. That is until he decides to settle down with Kellie. The relationship starts as a distraction because his father has threatened him about being with Elle, the girl who keeps showing up in his dreams. He thinks he can be happy with her until his transfer to Texas Tech comes through. Now Tristan will be forced to see Elle and be near her, all the while trying to convince himself and others that he loves Kellie. Really though, how could he not see how this was going to blow up in his face?! Boys :::roll eyes:::
Tristan's and Elle's story is truly torture to read!!! The whole time I'm yelling at the book about how stupid he's being or how immature she's being. Really I was, so why did I love it? It's so....believable. The author captures the emotions of these characters so well that I found myself crying with Elle or wanting to bang my head on a wall while Tristan tried (and failed) to love Kellie. But it wasn't all romance either. Tristan's and Elle's relationship as friends was at risk. They grew up together, they know everything about each other, and now they find themselves in unfamiliar territory. Elle starts dating seriously, Tristan is engaged. By all rights neither of them should be as close anymore, and when Elle tells Tristan this, it's heartbreaking. Thanks to alternating POVs, you know how they both feel about each other....that's dramatic irony at it's best y'all :D
This book left my emotions reeling, but I had a huge smile and warm heart at the end. Also bonus....it's a series so Tristan and Elle are coming back :) FYI this book is written for the New Adult genre, so 18+ please!! If you enjoy contemporary romance, then I highly recommend you check out this book. You do not want to miss it!!
Distraction by [a:Angela McPherson|7074174|Angela McPherson|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1367446260p2/7074174.jpg] follows the story of Tristan and Elle, two best friends who have been keeping secret their feelings for each other. The story starts with Tristan the football star. He has recently accepted a transfer to Texas Tech to be closer to his fiancé (and Elle). Elle, head over heels in love with Tristan, is just excited that he is coming for a visit. At least she was until he sprung on her his transfer and engagement. Forced to be near each other, Tristan and Elle must confess their feelings or risk losing each other forever.
I cannot express just how much I loved this story!!! Tristan and Elle are so well written I half expected to meet them on the street. Elle Richards is your typical college girl. She attends classes and works hard for every cent she's earned. She joined a sorority to appease her friend Alyssa. She dates, but nothing serious. Why? Because she is in love with her best friend who is miles away at another college. Tristan Daniels is a college football star, the typical jock and womanizer. That is until he decides to settle down with Kellie. The relationship starts as a distraction because his father has threatened him about being with Elle, the girl who keeps showing up in his dreams. He thinks he can be happy with her until his transfer to Texas Tech comes through. Now Tristan will be forced to see Elle and be near her, all the while trying to convince himself and others that he loves Kellie. Really though, how could he not see how this was going to blow up in his face?! Boys :::roll eyes:::
Tristan's and Elle's story is truly torture to read!!! The whole time I'm yelling at the book about how stupid he's being or how immature she's being. Really I was, so why did I love it? It's so....believable. The author captures the emotions of these characters so well that I found myself crying with Elle or wanting to bang my head on a wall while Tristan tried (and failed) to love Kellie. But it wasn't all romance either. Tristan's and Elle's relationship as friends was at risk. They grew up together, they know everything about each other, and now they find themselves in unfamiliar territory. Elle starts dating seriously, Tristan is engaged. By all rights neither of them should be as close anymore, and when Elle tells Tristan this, it's heartbreaking. Thanks to alternating POVs, you know how they both feel about each other....that's dramatic irony at it's best y'all :D
This book left my emotions reeling, but I had a huge smile and warm heart at the end. Also bonus....it's a series so Tristan and Elle are coming back :) FYI this book is written for the New Adult genre, so 18+ please!! If you enjoy contemporary romance, then I highly recommend you check out this book. You do not want to miss it!!
Thank you to Netgalley and Diversion Books for providing an eARC. This in no way affects my views on this book.
The Empress Chronicles by Suzy Vitello is an interesting piece of historical fiction, with alternating points of view between Liz in the present and Sisi in 1850s Austria. Liz is a city girl who while her mother is away on business is sent to live with her father on a goat farm. Not only is this cruel, but unbearable to Liz who is OCD and just got out of a psychiatric hospital. Sisi, better known as Empress Elisabeth of Austria, is fifteen and not yet Empress. She is introverted, a daddy's girl, and still living in her "childish ways" when her mother and aunt call her and her sister Helene to arrange their marriages. When Liz finds Sisi's old diary and locket, Liz becomes obsessed with the translation and the potential to change her fate.
The Characters
Liz is a fifteen year old who has had a rough start to high school. Teased in middle school about her hair, then a failed romantic endeavor, and the divorce of her parents lead to her having a mental breakdown. You see, Liz has OCD, obsessive compulsive disorder. She believes that everything about her is bad, everything is covered in germs, and if she doesn't fix it then people will be hurt. After cleaning a bathroom she shared with her mother and mixing the wrong chemicals, she lands herself in a psychiatric institution. Once released, her mother sends her to live with her father and his new girlfriend on a goat farm. To me, this is just cruel to send a girl recovering from an OCD breakdown to a farm that is crawling with dirt and germs. Not only is she stuck at this farm with her dad and Willow, but girlfriend's trouble-making brother, Cory, is sent there too. Cory is a carefree teenage boy, or at least that's how he wants people to see him. In reality he is just as troubled as Liz.
Sisi is also fifteen years old when this story begins and I love her! She is portrayed as the tomboy sister, interested in everything her father does. It isn't until her imperious aunt makes a rather mean comment about her teeth that Sisi becomes concerned with her looks. Throughout the book, the author portrays Sisi as a carefree child, then she slowly becomes more and more a teenager, even having her first menses. It's actually quite sad to read as the vibrant character goes out of Sisi as the book continues. Also Sisi is a bit of a romantic. She wants to be unabashedly in love, and as every teen has had a first crush knows it doesn't always end well. Sisi when thinking about her parent's relationship and her uncle's affair with a gypsy says this:
The Plot
This is truly a coming-of-age story that centers around social issues such as anorexia, bulimia, depression, and of course OCD, typical mental health diseases that usually begin during adolescence. Liz is fighting to overcome her compulsions. All she wants is to be normal, to not feel like she has to wash her hands or wear gloves all the time, but to just be normal. Cory becomes her lifeline in a sense. Together they steal Sisi's journal from her psychiatrist, and because Cory can read German, he begins translating it for her. Cory as I already stated is just as troubled as Liz and together they begin to overcome their obstacles.
Sisi, unfortunately, begins a downhill slide as she succumbs to the pressures of her mother and governess. She must act more like a lady. And, again unfortunately, she falls in love, but with the wrong person. Sisi's love is sent away and then as history tells us she is forced into another marriage. Or is she?
As the synopsis says, Liz finds a link to the past with Sisi's journal and locket, and well let's just say it gets really interesting. As a first book in the series, the author has set the stage well for the next book leaving a great cliff-hanger and an enchanting mystery.
My Conclusions
As my friends know, historical fiction is my vice. I love it! This book tops them all for creativity and to be honest, I'm not sure I've ever read another quite like it. The author blends the past and present so well as Liz's and Sisi's stories run parallel to one another. I really can't wait for the next one, and since this book just came out I'm guessing I have a long wait. If you enjoy historical fiction, young adult literature, coming-of-age stories with a little magic thrown in I highly recommend you check out this new book.
The Empress Chronicles by Suzy Vitello is an interesting piece of historical fiction, with alternating points of view between Liz in the present and Sisi in 1850s Austria. Liz is a city girl who while her mother is away on business is sent to live with her father on a goat farm. Not only is this cruel, but unbearable to Liz who is OCD and just got out of a psychiatric hospital. Sisi, better known as Empress Elisabeth of Austria, is fifteen and not yet Empress. She is introverted, a daddy's girl, and still living in her "childish ways" when her mother and aunt call her and her sister Helene to arrange their marriages. When Liz finds Sisi's old diary and locket, Liz becomes obsessed with the translation and the potential to change her fate.
The Characters
Liz is a fifteen year old who has had a rough start to high school. Teased in middle school about her hair, then a failed romantic endeavor, and the divorce of her parents lead to her having a mental breakdown. You see, Liz has OCD, obsessive compulsive disorder. She believes that everything about her is bad, everything is covered in germs, and if she doesn't fix it then people will be hurt. After cleaning a bathroom she shared with her mother and mixing the wrong chemicals, she lands herself in a psychiatric institution. Once released, her mother sends her to live with her father and his new girlfriend on a goat farm. To me, this is just cruel to send a girl recovering from an OCD breakdown to a farm that is crawling with dirt and germs. Not only is she stuck at this farm with her dad and Willow, but girlfriend's trouble-making brother, Cory, is sent there too. Cory is a carefree teenage boy, or at least that's how he wants people to see him. In reality he is just as troubled as Liz.
Sisi is also fifteen years old when this story begins and I love her! She is portrayed as the tomboy sister, interested in everything her father does. It isn't until her imperious aunt makes a rather mean comment about her teeth that Sisi becomes concerned with her looks. Throughout the book, the author portrays Sisi as a carefree child, then she slowly becomes more and more a teenager, even having her first menses. It's actually quite sad to read as the vibrant character goes out of Sisi as the book continues. Also Sisi is a bit of a romantic. She wants to be unabashedly in love, and as every teen has had a first crush knows it doesn't always end well. Sisi when thinking about her parent's relationship and her uncle's affair with a gypsy says this:
How a man could fall so deeply in love that nothing else mattered. Not the silly laws, nor the arguing over where a country border should go, or even who should wear what hat when. Who cared about what time a beer garden should shut down for the night when real tears and passions and hearts were involved?Like I said, she's a romantic ;)
The Plot
This is truly a coming-of-age story that centers around social issues such as anorexia, bulimia, depression, and of course OCD, typical mental health diseases that usually begin during adolescence. Liz is fighting to overcome her compulsions. All she wants is to be normal, to not feel like she has to wash her hands or wear gloves all the time, but to just be normal. Cory becomes her lifeline in a sense. Together they steal Sisi's journal from her psychiatrist, and because Cory can read German, he begins translating it for her. Cory as I already stated is just as troubled as Liz and together they begin to overcome their obstacles.
Sisi, unfortunately, begins a downhill slide as she succumbs to the pressures of her mother and governess. She must act more like a lady. And, again unfortunately, she falls in love, but with the wrong person. Sisi's love is sent away and then as history tells us she is forced into another marriage. Or is she?
As the synopsis says, Liz finds a link to the past with Sisi's journal and locket, and well let's just say it gets really interesting. As a first book in the series, the author has set the stage well for the next book leaving a great cliff-hanger and an enchanting mystery.
My Conclusions
As my friends know, historical fiction is my vice. I love it! This book tops them all for creativity and to be honest, I'm not sure I've ever read another quite like it. The author blends the past and present so well as Liz's and Sisi's stories run parallel to one another. I really can't wait for the next one, and since this book just came out I'm guessing I have a long wait. If you enjoy historical fiction, young adult literature, coming-of-age stories with a little magic thrown in I highly recommend you check out this new book.
The Island by [a:Jen Minkman|5808037|Jen Minkman|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1334999066p2/5808037.jpg] is book one of the novella series by the same name and begins with a haunting prologue about two twins at the age of 10 leaving their parents' home to become adults. That's right people, 10 years old and already considered adults in this dystopian world! Flash-forward 6 years, Leia and Colin are living at the manor with the other teens between ages 10 and 18. They are learning survival skills like hunting, fishing, and gathering, and awaiting the time when they will chose a husband/wife and return to the parents' village. At the manor, the youngsters - as they are called - are supposed to work together, however an elder boy Saul decides to become leader and using fear keeps the others in line. Leia and Colin feel they must stop him, but at what cost?
The Characters
Leia is the main character and the story is told from her point of view. I found her to be strong, determined, and devoted to what she believes. However, she is also curious. She steals "the Book" (a notebook that is from her ancestors telling them how to live) and begins reading it trying to find out if Saul is acting on his own accord or with the Book.
Walt comes in about 30% into the book. He is from the other side of the wall, a Fool. He also happens to extremely handsome and make are leading lady blush. Walt is confident and caring, and completely smitten with Leia. But he also has an ulterior motive.
Saul is a scary guy. He's written to be intimidating, but to me he comes off as a scared kid. He left his parents as he was forced to do at 10 just like all the other kids. Now he's the oldest, doesn't seem interested in finding a wife, and a bit power hungry.
The Plot
Because this is a novella I won't dig too deep into the plot. I don't want to spoil the story ;) The world-building is subtle and flows well with the overall story. Leia is confined to her side of the island and really only knows what she has been told by her parents and Saul. And what they know has been passed down from their parents, and so on. Leia, her brother and a few others decide to revolt against Saul and Leia relies on the help of Walt to do so.
I've read a couple of not-so-flattering reviews of this book because of the blatant fan-fiction to Star Wars. Personally, I loved it! I'm a huge Star Wars fan, so to me it added humor to a story that would otherwise have been quite sad. Leia's side of the island believes in the Force and drawing strength and power from it as her ancestors did :lol: Walt's side of the island, the Fools as Leia calls them, look to the horizon, waiting on help that Leia believes will never come. As I've already stated a very interesting piece of dystopian literature.
My Conclusions
Overall, I really enjoyed this book, probably more than I should have :D I loved the Star Wars references! It added to the story brining ironic humor in just the right places. I felt the world-building was subtle and created an interesting view on what would happen if [spoiler] all the adults on the planet died and children under 10 were left to start over.[/spoiler] If you enjoy young adult dystopians and are looking for a quick read, I highly recommend this one. It's just long enough to fix whet your appetite and long enough that you aren't too disappointed in the ending. Honestly I can't wait to read the rest!
The Characters
Leia is the main character and the story is told from her point of view. I found her to be strong, determined, and devoted to what she believes. However, she is also curious. She steals "the Book" (a notebook that is from her ancestors telling them how to live) and begins reading it trying to find out if Saul is acting on his own accord or with the Book.
Walt comes in about 30% into the book. He is from the other side of the wall, a Fool. He also happens to extremely handsome and make are leading lady blush. Walt is confident and caring, and completely smitten with Leia. But he also has an ulterior motive.
Saul is a scary guy. He's written to be intimidating, but to me he comes off as a scared kid. He left his parents as he was forced to do at 10 just like all the other kids. Now he's the oldest, doesn't seem interested in finding a wife, and a bit power hungry.
The Plot
Because this is a novella I won't dig too deep into the plot. I don't want to spoil the story ;) The world-building is subtle and flows well with the overall story. Leia is confined to her side of the island and really only knows what she has been told by her parents and Saul. And what they know has been passed down from their parents, and so on. Leia, her brother and a few others decide to revolt against Saul and Leia relies on the help of Walt to do so.
I've read a couple of not-so-flattering reviews of this book because of the blatant fan-fiction to Star Wars. Personally, I loved it! I'm a huge Star Wars fan, so to me it added humor to a story that would otherwise have been quite sad. Leia's side of the island believes in the Force and drawing strength and power from it as her ancestors did :lol: Walt's side of the island, the Fools as Leia calls them, look to the horizon, waiting on help that Leia believes will never come. As I've already stated a very interesting piece of dystopian literature.
My Conclusions
Overall, I really enjoyed this book, probably more than I should have :D I loved the Star Wars references! It added to the story brining ironic humor in just the right places. I felt the world-building was subtle and created an interesting view on what would happen if [spoiler] all the adults on the planet died and children under 10 were left to start over.[/spoiler] If you enjoy young adult dystopians and are looking for a quick read, I highly recommend this one. It's just long enough to fix whet your appetite and long enough that you aren't too disappointed in the ending. Honestly I can't wait to read the rest!
Thank you to the author and Goodreads group David Estes Fans and YA Book Lovers Unite! for providing a copy of this ebook for review. The views in this review are mine and are in no way affected by receiving a copy of the book.
Kiss Me Dead by [a:Dale Ibitz|4855357|Dale Ibitz|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1401543593p2/4855357.jpg] follows two stories that merge into one towards the end of the book about Brooke and Christian. In 1938, Christian Graves is in love with a human, something that is forbidden for his kind. You see he is a reaper for Giltine, meaning he ushers souls to judgment. He wants to break this curse and be free to live as a human, but Giltine has other plans. In the present, Brooke thinks she has gone crazy because she sees reapers. She watched them kill her older brother. Now she confines herself to home, rarely leaving. Until one day she meets a reaper and he warns her that someone is planning to kill her. Can she trust him?
The Characters
Okay I'll be completely honest, I didn't care for the main characters too much. Brooke is supposedly 19 years old, still living at home and still grieving over the death of her brother a few years earlier. She's agoraphobic (afraid to leave her house) and she sees reapers. By all accounts, she believes that she is crazy. I felt no connection with this character. Brooke was immature in my opinion and ventured out of her house to see her friend at Panera Bread. If you are agoraphobic and truly scared of the world around you, why would you meet your best friend at a busy restaurant?
Christian is immortal as he is half-reaper, half-human. He was doomed to a life of servitude to Giltine by his father when he made a deal with her to live a human life. The majority of his story occurs in 1938, but he also is in the present with Brooke as well. In 1938 he falls in love with a human and wishes to make a deal with Giltine. However, he hopes to outsmart her and not giveaway his future child. I found Christian a bit arrogant and selfish. He sees his job as a reaper as detestable and thinks that he is stealing souls. In actuality he helps them, but he only sees the bad, especially when the soul is young. He is also obsessed with the fact that he is a slave. He wants to be free and spends the majority of the book trying to be so.
The Plot
The story alternates POV between Brooke in the present and Christian in 1938 and as I stated earlier with two story lines that merge into one about 70% into the book. The storyline of 1938 follows Christian as he falls in love with a human and then attempts to make a deal with Giltine. I really liked this storyline. Christian is likable and relatable. It isn't until towards the end of this part of the plot that his character becomes bitter and hard to like or trust. In the present, Brooke is haunted by reapers no one else can see. Then she is warned by an almost-reaper that someone is going to kill her. As she begins to learn what she is, she accepts it and decides to help Christian break his curse.
Personally I thought Brooke's character was not very well written. If truly agoraphobic, I believe that Brooke would not have been so trusting of the almost-reaper or have accepted her fate so easily. I felt that it was unbelievable.
My Conclusions
Overall this story kept my attention. I enjoy books with alternating points of view because it gives the reader a glimpse of what each character is thinking. However this story the alternating POVs are at different points of time as well, making it a bit hard to follow as the stories do not relate or run parallel to one another. Also, call me a prude if you like, the author's use of profanity felt off. Many times the author would just write "f-bomb" instead of the actual word when other times the word would be written out. In my opinion, either use it or don't. I felt that the slang depreciated the novel. Also descriptions like this:
Kiss Me Dead by [a:Dale Ibitz|4855357|Dale Ibitz|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1401543593p2/4855357.jpg] follows two stories that merge into one towards the end of the book about Brooke and Christian. In 1938, Christian Graves is in love with a human, something that is forbidden for his kind. You see he is a reaper for Giltine, meaning he ushers souls to judgment. He wants to break this curse and be free to live as a human, but Giltine has other plans. In the present, Brooke thinks she has gone crazy because she sees reapers. She watched them kill her older brother. Now she confines herself to home, rarely leaving. Until one day she meets a reaper and he warns her that someone is planning to kill her. Can she trust him?
The Characters
Okay I'll be completely honest, I didn't care for the main characters too much. Brooke is supposedly 19 years old, still living at home and still grieving over the death of her brother a few years earlier. She's agoraphobic (afraid to leave her house) and she sees reapers. By all accounts, she believes that she is crazy. I felt no connection with this character. Brooke was immature in my opinion and ventured out of her house to see her friend at Panera Bread. If you are agoraphobic and truly scared of the world around you, why would you meet your best friend at a busy restaurant?
Christian is immortal as he is half-reaper, half-human. He was doomed to a life of servitude to Giltine by his father when he made a deal with her to live a human life. The majority of his story occurs in 1938, but he also is in the present with Brooke as well. In 1938 he falls in love with a human and wishes to make a deal with Giltine. However, he hopes to outsmart her and not giveaway his future child. I found Christian a bit arrogant and selfish. He sees his job as a reaper as detestable and thinks that he is stealing souls. In actuality he helps them, but he only sees the bad, especially when the soul is young. He is also obsessed with the fact that he is a slave. He wants to be free and spends the majority of the book trying to be so.
The Plot
The story alternates POV between Brooke in the present and Christian in 1938 and as I stated earlier with two story lines that merge into one about 70% into the book. The storyline of 1938 follows Christian as he falls in love with a human and then attempts to make a deal with Giltine. I really liked this storyline. Christian is likable and relatable. It isn't until towards the end of this part of the plot that his character becomes bitter and hard to like or trust. In the present, Brooke is haunted by reapers no one else can see. Then she is warned by an almost-reaper that someone is going to kill her. As she begins to learn what she is, she accepts it and decides to help Christian break his curse.
Personally I thought Brooke's character was not very well written. If truly agoraphobic, I believe that Brooke would not have been so trusting of the almost-reaper or have accepted her fate so easily. I felt that it was unbelievable.
My Conclusions
Overall this story kept my attention. I enjoy books with alternating points of view because it gives the reader a glimpse of what each character is thinking. However this story the alternating POVs are at different points of time as well, making it a bit hard to follow as the stories do not relate or run parallel to one another. Also, call me a prude if you like, the author's use of profanity felt off. Many times the author would just write "f-bomb" instead of the actual word when other times the word would be written out. In my opinion, either use it or don't. I felt that the slang depreciated the novel. Also descriptions like this:
Eyes widening, she hovered over the endless depths of air that crept up her spine. Clutching at his sleeve with both hands, her nails dug through the cloth. Her bladder clenched then loosened, a sharp taste of metal stinging her dry tongue.Um.....I have no words for that. The descriptions were either over the top or not enough. The saving grace of this story was when the story lines converged. The plot felt a bit rushed at that point but the action and suspense and eventual ending to this book made it a decent read. If you enjoy demon mythology and paranormal romance, you may enjoy this one as well.
A big, BIG thank you to Rebecca Ethington for providing an ARC for review! The opinions in this review are my own and are in no way affected by receiving a copy of the book.
Of River and Raynn - The Catalyst by [a:Rebecca Ethington|6563633|Rebecca Ethington|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1361115527p2/6563633.jpg] is the first book in a new young adult fantasy series about a boy and a girl who are tied together by unbelievable means. Raynn is seventeen years old, a teen raised in the foster care system in NYC. Found at Grand Central Station when she was 8, she has no memories of her life prior to that point. River is a few years older and was found the same night as Raynn in Chicago. Believed to be Raynn's brother, River is raised away from Raynn. Now in the present their only goal is to find each other.
The Characters
Raynn is a lonely teenage girl. Raised in the foster system, she's had too many families to count, and with no memories of her life before foster care, she feels unwanted and unloved. With her 18th birthday approaching, she is counting down the days to when she can disappear and find her brother. But Raynn isn't a normal girl. She has nightmares about an evil white queen and a world with a blood red sky and trees with white trunks. Raynn's labeled as a schizophrenic and as I read I believed it! She would go missing for days at a time with no recollection of where she'd been and these terrifying dreams what else could it be? Then I met River.
River is a bit older than Raynn (I think he's twenty when the book starts) and very dark and very mysterious. Within just the first few chapters I realized River is deranged and a murderer. I thought Raynn was screwed up, but River is the one to watch out for. He also dreams of the white queen, but to him she is real. With a bit of magic he learns from the queen, he steals time from Raynn to complete his "mark." O_O But that's not even the worst of it! River enjoys it, the blood, the fear. He's truly terrifying! I now understand this status the author posted on her Facebook page:
In my opinion, River has only one redeeming quality and that's his love for Raynn. The relationship they share is unlike anything I've ever read and it's pure, even if a bit tainted by his rather nasty job.
The Plot
I'll be completely honest with you.....for about the first 30% of the book I was entirely lost. I had no clues as to where the book and characters were heading, which made it a very exciting read! I will do my best to NOT spoil this book for you. Raynn with her unexplained disappearance and terrifying nightmares returns after an 8 day absence to find her apartment covered in blood and a police officer waiting to arrest her for the murder of one of her roommates. River, sadistic man that he is, enjoyed killing said roommate and returns to his hotel after 8 days for him and only a few minutes for the "escort" he's left in his room as an alibi. (All of this occurs in just the first two chapters of the book, so no spoilers I promise) The escort is terrified of River as she tells him she saw him on the news and asks who the girl is. River gets rid of her (you'll have to read it to see how because I'm not spoiling his unique gift) and turns it on. The news shows a video of Raynn and River in an elevator together, though they've not seen each other in ten years.
The plot is full of high suspense and a lot of action, plus quite a bit of fantasy as the world that Raynn believed all dream becomes reality. This world Okivo comes into the book at around the 30% mark and all of a sudden where I had been lost, everything makes sense. I won't say anything else because it needs and deserves to be experienced first-hand. I will say that it is unlike anything I've ever read and I enjoyed every word!
My Conclusions
If I could give this book more than 5 stars, I would. It is that good!!! I cannot even begin to express in words how much I enjoyed it. Even at the beginning when I was lost, I still enjoyed it. The author does an amazing job of character development (which what am I saying?! Of course she did. She is the one that created Ilyan in the Imdalind series :D ) and unlike many of her books the POV alternates between River and Raynn, giving the reader an inside look at both characters. I loved that because honestly if it had been told all from Raynn's POV I never would have liked River. He's just so creepy! The world-building that actually starts while in NYC moves into this entirely fictitious world of Okivo seamlessly. In fact I want to visit this beautiful place!
Overall, I think it's obvious I loved the book. I really can't wait for others to read it so I can start talking to people about it :) It's a wonderful mix of fantasy, action, and of course a little romance. It's written and billed for the young adult audience, but I believe all ages will enjoy it. One of the things I love about this author is her ability to convey violence and romance but still keep it a clean read for younger ages. This book was written with interactive online journals and videos from the two main characters, River and Raynn. I highly suggest you check out the journals (http://www.riverandraynn.com) before reading the book as it will enhance your reading experience. However if you do not have time to do so or like me you are anxious to start the book, it can be read without them and still enjoyed ;) If you enjoy fantasy, paranormal romance, and just an all-around good read I highly recommend you check out the book. This author has never disappointed me and I'm sure you'll enjoy it too.
Of River and Raynn - The Catalyst by [a:Rebecca Ethington|6563633|Rebecca Ethington|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1361115527p2/6563633.jpg] is the first book in a new young adult fantasy series about a boy and a girl who are tied together by unbelievable means. Raynn is seventeen years old, a teen raised in the foster care system in NYC. Found at Grand Central Station when she was 8, she has no memories of her life prior to that point. River is a few years older and was found the same night as Raynn in Chicago. Believed to be Raynn's brother, River is raised away from Raynn. Now in the present their only goal is to find each other.
The Characters
Raynn is a lonely teenage girl. Raised in the foster system, she's had too many families to count, and with no memories of her life before foster care, she feels unwanted and unloved. With her 18th birthday approaching, she is counting down the days to when she can disappear and find her brother. But Raynn isn't a normal girl. She has nightmares about an evil white queen and a world with a blood red sky and trees with white trunks. Raynn's labeled as a schizophrenic and as I read I believed it! She would go missing for days at a time with no recollection of where she'd been and these terrifying dreams what else could it be? Then I met River.
River is a bit older than Raynn (I think he's twenty when the book starts) and very dark and very mysterious. Within just the first few chapters I realized River is deranged and a murderer. I thought Raynn was screwed up, but River is the one to watch out for. He also dreams of the white queen, but to him she is real. With a bit of magic he learns from the queen, he steals time from Raynn to complete his "mark." O_O But that's not even the worst of it! River enjoys it, the blood, the fear. He's truly terrifying! I now understand this status the author posted on her Facebook page:
In my opinion, River has only one redeeming quality and that's his love for Raynn. The relationship they share is unlike anything I've ever read and it's pure, even if a bit tainted by his rather nasty job.
The Plot
I'll be completely honest with you.....for about the first 30% of the book I was entirely lost. I had no clues as to where the book and characters were heading, which made it a very exciting read! I will do my best to NOT spoil this book for you. Raynn with her unexplained disappearance and terrifying nightmares returns after an 8 day absence to find her apartment covered in blood and a police officer waiting to arrest her for the murder of one of her roommates. River, sadistic man that he is, enjoyed killing said roommate and returns to his hotel after 8 days for him and only a few minutes for the "escort" he's left in his room as an alibi. (All of this occurs in just the first two chapters of the book, so no spoilers I promise) The escort is terrified of River as she tells him she saw him on the news and asks who the girl is. River gets rid of her (you'll have to read it to see how because I'm not spoiling his unique gift) and turns it on. The news shows a video of Raynn and River in an elevator together, though they've not seen each other in ten years.
The plot is full of high suspense and a lot of action, plus quite a bit of fantasy as the world that Raynn believed all dream becomes reality. This world Okivo comes into the book at around the 30% mark and all of a sudden where I had been lost, everything makes sense. I won't say anything else because it needs and deserves to be experienced first-hand. I will say that it is unlike anything I've ever read and I enjoyed every word!
My Conclusions
If I could give this book more than 5 stars, I would. It is that good!!! I cannot even begin to express in words how much I enjoyed it. Even at the beginning when I was lost, I still enjoyed it. The author does an amazing job of character development (which what am I saying?! Of course she did. She is the one that created Ilyan in the Imdalind series :D ) and unlike many of her books the POV alternates between River and Raynn, giving the reader an inside look at both characters. I loved that because honestly if it had been told all from Raynn's POV I never would have liked River. He's just so creepy! The world-building that actually starts while in NYC moves into this entirely fictitious world of Okivo seamlessly. In fact I want to visit this beautiful place!
Overall, I think it's obvious I loved the book. I really can't wait for others to read it so I can start talking to people about it :) It's a wonderful mix of fantasy, action, and of course a little romance. It's written and billed for the young adult audience, but I believe all ages will enjoy it. One of the things I love about this author is her ability to convey violence and romance but still keep it a clean read for younger ages. This book was written with interactive online journals and videos from the two main characters, River and Raynn. I highly suggest you check out the journals (http://www.riverandraynn.com) before reading the book as it will enhance your reading experience. However if you do not have time to do so or like me you are anxious to start the book, it can be read without them and still enjoyed ;) If you enjoy fantasy, paranormal romance, and just an all-around good read I highly recommend you check out the book. This author has never disappointed me and I'm sure you'll enjoy it too.
A big thank you to the author for providing a copy of this ebook for free in exchange for an honest review. The following are my own thoughts and opinions of this book.
A Silent Prayer by [a:Samreen Ahsan|7138069|Samreen Ahsan|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1387216035p2/7138069.jpg] is book one of the A Prayer series and follows the story of Adam Gibson and Rania Ahmed. Rania is a young women living in Canada and working at her uncle's company as a computer designer. A dark past that includes an abusive relationship has Rania swearing off men but fate has other ideas. Adam is CEO of his company, most eligible bachelor, and the richest man in his town. He seemingly has everything but a steady woman and that he doesn't need. Until one night he sees a mysterious woman dancing in a building that doesn't exist, Adam suddenly is in love with that woman. He seeks her everywhere. One morning fate steps in and Adam meets his mystery woman, Rania. Can their vastly different beliefs be put aside as their relationship blossoms?
The Characters
Rania Ahmed is in her mid-twenties, a devout Muslim, and hard worker. She is kind, but closed to relationships, and has a strong belief in God and his mercy. Adam is the opposite. He is late twenties (I believe, maybe thirty), also a hard worker possibly even a workaholic, and an atheist. At the beginning of the story, Adam is drunk, leaving a business engagement when he hears music coming from the connected building. On entering he sees a beautiful woman dancing and immediately falls for her. When he touches her she disappears as does the building. Thinking he's insane or possibly very drunk, he thinks no more of the building, but becomes obsessed with finding the mystery woman. Rania he believes is her.
The relationship that builds between these two characters is kind of unreal. Adam is obsessed with her, and like another reviewer said he is a G-rated Christian Grey. He's dominating and controlling, and for the way Rania is portrayed I don't think this would go over well in real life. In fact, I think she would tell him to take a hike, but not so in the book. Instead she is submissive and basically his Ana, kind of annoying actually. Rania starts as a strong woman, living on her own, and independent but quickly her dark past makes her need Adam as much as he needs her.
The Plot
The plot of this story centers around the two main characters and their relationship. It also focuses on, for lack of a better word, healing Adam's own emotional scars. Rania does this by forcing him to be open with her and his family that he has shut out of his life, but also slowly revealing God and her faith to him. I found the concept sweet but a bit unbelieving for an atheist to convert so easily, but then again the story doesn't really focus on that so much as it does their relationship.
I kept expecting some paranormal elements to come in after the first encounter with the mystery woman in the building that didn't exist, but that storyline never developed and only continues as a part of book two where the focus moves to healing Rania. This for me was a bit disappointing as I was intrigued and curious and felt that the story just ended.
My Conclusions
Ummm.....I just don't know how to feel about this book. On one hand I enjoyed aspects of Adam and Rania's relationship. On the other I felt it was forced and not built naturally. Also, (call me a prude if you like) the profanity, specifically the use of the F-word really bothered me. Here is a book that has a strong spiritual message about God and the Muslim faith and the profanity sticks out like a sore thumb. In fact, I felt really torn about this because of my own beliefs. In one sentence Rania is telling Adam about her faith and the next she drops an F-bomb.....ummm really?!
Overall, the story was intriguing and well-written, but my own personal feelings and beliefs couldn't be quieted and I gave the book 3 stars. For the most part this book is a clean read (minus the profanity), it doesn't fall into the erotica category, but it does represent typical contemporary women's literature. If you enjoy a bit of paranormal, romance, and spiritual reading I think this book is for you.
A Silent Prayer by [a:Samreen Ahsan|7138069|Samreen Ahsan|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1387216035p2/7138069.jpg] is book one of the A Prayer series and follows the story of Adam Gibson and Rania Ahmed. Rania is a young women living in Canada and working at her uncle's company as a computer designer. A dark past that includes an abusive relationship has Rania swearing off men but fate has other ideas. Adam is CEO of his company, most eligible bachelor, and the richest man in his town. He seemingly has everything but a steady woman and that he doesn't need. Until one night he sees a mysterious woman dancing in a building that doesn't exist, Adam suddenly is in love with that woman. He seeks her everywhere. One morning fate steps in and Adam meets his mystery woman, Rania. Can their vastly different beliefs be put aside as their relationship blossoms?
The Characters
Rania Ahmed is in her mid-twenties, a devout Muslim, and hard worker. She is kind, but closed to relationships, and has a strong belief in God and his mercy. Adam is the opposite. He is late twenties (I believe, maybe thirty), also a hard worker possibly even a workaholic, and an atheist. At the beginning of the story, Adam is drunk, leaving a business engagement when he hears music coming from the connected building. On entering he sees a beautiful woman dancing and immediately falls for her. When he touches her she disappears as does the building. Thinking he's insane or possibly very drunk, he thinks no more of the building, but becomes obsessed with finding the mystery woman. Rania he believes is her.
The relationship that builds between these two characters is kind of unreal. Adam is obsessed with her, and like another reviewer said he is a G-rated Christian Grey. He's dominating and controlling, and for the way Rania is portrayed I don't think this would go over well in real life. In fact, I think she would tell him to take a hike, but not so in the book. Instead she is submissive and basically his Ana, kind of annoying actually. Rania starts as a strong woman, living on her own, and independent but quickly her dark past makes her need Adam as much as he needs her.
The Plot
The plot of this story centers around the two main characters and their relationship. It also focuses on, for lack of a better word, healing Adam's own emotional scars. Rania does this by forcing him to be open with her and his family that he has shut out of his life, but also slowly revealing God and her faith to him. I found the concept sweet but a bit unbelieving for an atheist to convert so easily, but then again the story doesn't really focus on that so much as it does their relationship.
I kept expecting some paranormal elements to come in after the first encounter with the mystery woman in the building that didn't exist, but that storyline never developed and only continues as a part of book two where the focus moves to healing Rania. This for me was a bit disappointing as I was intrigued and curious and felt that the story just ended.
My Conclusions
Ummm.....I just don't know how to feel about this book. On one hand I enjoyed aspects of Adam and Rania's relationship. On the other I felt it was forced and not built naturally. Also, (call me a prude if you like) the profanity, specifically the use of the F-word really bothered me. Here is a book that has a strong spiritual message about God and the Muslim faith and the profanity sticks out like a sore thumb. In fact, I felt really torn about this because of my own beliefs. In one sentence Rania is telling Adam about her faith and the next she drops an F-bomb.....ummm really?!
Overall, the story was intriguing and well-written, but my own personal feelings and beliefs couldn't be quieted and I gave the book 3 stars. For the most part this book is a clean read (minus the profanity), it doesn't fall into the erotica category, but it does represent typical contemporary women's literature. If you enjoy a bit of paranormal, romance, and spiritual reading I think this book is for you.
Fire Country by [a:David Estes|3167424|David Estes|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1359857929p2/3167424.jpg] is book one of the Country Saga and follows Siena's story as she nears the age in which her community considers her an adult. Siena is 15 years old and will be sixteen soon, meaning that she will be chosen to be a Bearer. All women must bear 3 children after their Calling to the husband the elders choose for them. However rumors of the Wild Ones, a tribe of women living in the barren lands, kidnapping younglings before the Call are spreading. Siena must find the truth that the elders are hiding before her time runs out.
The Characters
I don't think I can say this enough...I LOVE the characters created by David Estes. His unique writing style brings them to life on the pages and it is so easy to put yourself in their shoes.
Siena is still a child, but she bears the world on her shoulders. The Elders are lying and she knows it. Taking it upon herself she uses some extreme means to learn the truth and all of this before she turns sixteen and is forced to wed and bear children to someone she doesn't love. I found Siena to be a remarkably strong-willed, determined character. She's brave and fearless when it comes to helping others, and she is loyal to those she loves. I know I'm gushing, but I really love her! She's a character that inspires young girls to stand up for what they know is right.
The Plot
All I know to say is this author knows how to create an amazing world! The world-building is subtle, yet entirely believable. The Country Saga is a sister series to the Dweller Saga, in which we find out that the world was hit with a devastating meteor leaving life on the surface uninhabitable, or at least that is what the Dwellers think. In this book, we find out that a few did survive and managed to live on the surface. In Fire Country where Siena lives, the sky is a dull yellow with a bright red sun and hazy, gaseous clouds. It's always hot, and few things live and grow there.
Siena and the whole community live be one rule, do what it takes to keep the human race alive. For her community, that's the Call. The Call is a ceremony everyone must partake in. For women at the age of 16 they will be given a husband by the elders and are required to bear three children to ensure the community's survival. The men at the age of 18 will receive their first Call wife and in years to come will be given two more for a total of 3 wives and 9 children, if all live. (I promise I didn't just spoil the book, most of this is explained during the first chapter.) I was horrified for Siena and all the girls who at 16 are forced to marry a man they may or may not know. I couldn't imagine the terror or the repulsion they must feel. Not to mention the fact that love is nonexistent in this community.
When the rumors of the Wild Ones and deals with the neighboring Ice Country are overheard by Siena, she makes it her mission to find out all she can. If there is another way to live she will do it. Then the unspeakable happensand Siena loses her drive. She accepts her fate, but others have different plans for her.
My Conclusions
The whole plot is an emotional roller coaster with several highs and lows. But one thing is certain, I could not stop reading! The suspense of what will happen coupled with the heartbreak of what was happening drove the plot and Siena. I connected with the story instantly and fell in love with the characters and world. If you enjoy young adult dystopians, science fiction, and a sweet romance, then I highly suggest you pick up this story. It's well worth the money and your time!
The Characters
I don't think I can say this enough...I LOVE the characters created by David Estes. His unique writing style brings them to life on the pages and it is so easy to put yourself in their shoes.
Siena is still a child, but she bears the world on her shoulders. The Elders are lying and she knows it. Taking it upon herself she uses some extreme means to learn the truth and all of this before she turns sixteen and is forced to wed and bear children to someone she doesn't love. I found Siena to be a remarkably strong-willed, determined character. She's brave and fearless when it comes to helping others, and she is loyal to those she loves. I know I'm gushing, but I really love her! She's a character that inspires young girls to stand up for what they know is right.
Whatever Circ and I were, it went beyond the simple labels of humans. Lovers, friends, family...Circ is her best and only friend. He is handsome, strong, and hopelessly in love with a girl who can never be his. The same age as Siena, he will not have to be Called as a husband until he is eighteen. So there is no hope that Siena will be his. And Siena loves him back, has fantasized that he will be her Called, though she knows it will never happen. Circ brings out the best in Siena, as a best friend should, but he also gives her a confidence that she lacks when he is gone.
...soul mates.
That's the only one that feels right when I think about it.
The Plot
All I know to say is this author knows how to create an amazing world! The world-building is subtle, yet entirely believable. The Country Saga is a sister series to the Dweller Saga, in which we find out that the world was hit with a devastating meteor leaving life on the surface uninhabitable, or at least that is what the Dwellers think. In this book, we find out that a few did survive and managed to live on the surface. In Fire Country where Siena lives, the sky is a dull yellow with a bright red sun and hazy, gaseous clouds. It's always hot, and few things live and grow there.
Siena and the whole community live be one rule, do what it takes to keep the human race alive. For her community, that's the Call. The Call is a ceremony everyone must partake in. For women at the age of 16 they will be given a husband by the elders and are required to bear three children to ensure the community's survival. The men at the age of 18 will receive their first Call wife and in years to come will be given two more for a total of 3 wives and 9 children, if all live. (I promise I didn't just spoil the book, most of this is explained during the first chapter.) I was horrified for Siena and all the girls who at 16 are forced to marry a man they may or may not know. I couldn't imagine the terror or the repulsion they must feel. Not to mention the fact that love is nonexistent in this community.
When the rumors of the Wild Ones and deals with the neighboring Ice Country are overheard by Siena, she makes it her mission to find out all she can. If there is another way to live she will do it. Then the unspeakable happens
Spoiler
Circ is killed in a hunting excursion ordered by her Father. I literally thought I read it wrong and re-read this section probably ten times before I finally accepted that the perfect boy was gone.My Conclusions
The whole plot is an emotional roller coaster with several highs and lows. But one thing is certain, I could not stop reading! The suspense of what will happen coupled with the heartbreak of what was happening drove the plot and Siena. I connected with the story instantly and fell in love with the characters and world. If you enjoy young adult dystopians, science fiction, and a sweet romance, then I highly suggest you pick up this story. It's well worth the money and your time!
Fall by [a:Scarlett Dawn|7141792|Scarlett Dawn|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1371703030p2/7141792.jpg] is the first in the Cold Mark serial series about Braita, a young woman who is sacrificed and placed into slavery on another planet to the cruel Mian race. Braita lives on Joyal, a type of second Earth for the one-thousand human survivors who escaped hundreds of years before. After a catastrophic event wipes out Braita's village, the community must send some humans to the two neighboring planets in order for those left to survive. Braita is chosen to go to Triaz to live with the cruel and vicious Mians. Once there, the unthinkable happens and she is bound to two Mians. She must learn how to survive in their cruel world and guard her heart unless she falls.
The Characters
Braita is the main character and I felt she was a bit naive. The humans on this world live so that they do not cause another downfall. There is no physical contact between humans and so Braita has never been touched until she arrives on this new world with a race known for their cruelty. She is steadfast in her beliefs, yet still childish. She is also strong and lethal, having received all ten marks that can be given in training on Joyal. I liked her, in a little sister sort of way. I wanted to reach into the book and guide her around. I was scared for her and rightfully so!
Malik and Leo are.....oh my I have no words!! They are Mian, the leaders of West Triaz, and each other's Vaq. Basically in Mian culture, each family consists of two husbands, the Vaq, and ten wives, the Harem. It's a bit much in my opinion. Malik is dark and brooding, and he tends to be quite sarcastic around Braita, who love her doesn't get it. Leo is the opposite, he is kind and very sweet on Braita, but in a brother sort of way. I like them both until the end (you'll have to read to see why!).
The Plot
This story centers more around world-building and Braita adjusting to her new life. The world she lives in is complex, but the author does a wonderful job of slowly immersing the reader into the lifestyles of these Humans and Mians. I found it fascinating and was intrigued by the brutality of the Mian race. Braita is the first of her kind, a human bound to a Vaq by a ritual that was believed to only occur within the Mian race. I was shocked as was Braita, but the natural relationship that builds among the characters is very believable. I can't wait to see more from of series :D
My Conclusions
Overall the story was excellent! It is short, in fact I read it in just over an hour and it left me emotionally scarred. I desperately need more! The story falls into a category that is really new territory for most readers: a sci-fi, new adult serial series. If you enjoy sci-fi and don't mind the occasional use of profanity (it is easily overlooked, as there isn't much of it), I highly recommend you check it out. As for me, I'm counting down the days to November when the sequel comes out ;)
The Characters
Braita is the main character and I felt she was a bit naive. The humans on this world live so that they do not cause another downfall. There is no physical contact between humans and so Braita has never been touched until she arrives on this new world with a race known for their cruelty. She is steadfast in her beliefs, yet still childish. She is also strong and lethal, having received all ten marks that can be given in training on Joyal. I liked her, in a little sister sort of way. I wanted to reach into the book and guide her around. I was scared for her and rightfully so!
Malik and Leo are.....oh my I have no words!! They are Mian, the leaders of West Triaz, and each other's Vaq. Basically in Mian culture, each family consists of two husbands, the Vaq, and ten wives, the Harem. It's a bit much in my opinion. Malik is dark and brooding, and he tends to be quite sarcastic around Braita, who love her doesn't get it. Leo is the opposite, he is kind and very sweet on Braita, but in a brother sort of way. I like them both until the end (you'll have to read to see why!).
The Plot
This story centers more around world-building and Braita adjusting to her new life. The world she lives in is complex, but the author does a wonderful job of slowly immersing the reader into the lifestyles of these Humans and Mians. I found it fascinating and was intrigued by the brutality of the Mian race. Braita is the first of her kind, a human bound to a Vaq by a ritual that was believed to only occur within the Mian race. I was shocked as was Braita, but the natural relationship that builds among the characters is very believable. I can't wait to see more from of series :D
My Conclusions
Overall the story was excellent! It is short, in fact I read it in just over an hour and it left me emotionally scarred. I desperately need more! The story falls into a category that is really new territory for most readers: a sci-fi, new adult serial series. If you enjoy sci-fi and don't mind the occasional use of profanity (it is easily overlooked, as there isn't much of it), I highly recommend you check it out. As for me, I'm counting down the days to November when the sequel comes out ;)
Thank you to Penguin First to Read for providing a copy of this book, this does not affect my review. The following are my own thoughts and opinions.
Atlantia by [a:Ally Condie|1304470|Ally Condie|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1361564387p2/1304470.jpg] is an incredible story about two sisters, their love for one another, one's betrayal, and the other's search for the truth. Rio Conwy is eighteen years old and a siren living in the underwater city of Atlantia. She has always dreamed of going Above. On the anniversary of the Divide, all eighteen year olds make a choice to go Above or stay Below. After losing their mother, Bay, Rio's twin sister, begs her to stay Below with her, to not leave her alone. Rio reluctantly makes that decision. However, Bay doesn't. She leaves Rio Below for the Above. Rio is heartbroken, alone, angry, and determined to get to the Above and find out why her sister would leave her.
Character Breakdown
Love Rio!!!! Oh my goodness, I cannot say enough how much I love this character. Rio is broken when we first see her. During the very beginning pages of the book, she is grieving for her mother that has been dead only a few months and a father she never knew. Then her sister leaves her Below and she is now grieving and angry. Rio is strong, determined, and fierce. She has a way about her that other's notice and seem to like her for. But she is also a siren. Sirens in this world are hated and feared, when they use to be revered. So for her entire life she has hid this part of herself. Can you imagine the strength it would take to hide a part of yourself? I can't, but she does and does for a majority of the book. I find her very brave!
Then there is True, the handsome boy Rio meets in the temple. Though he's never seen sun, Rio describes him with sun-kissed skin and eyes the color of soil. (Rio's favorite color is brown ;) ) True is like his name, faithful, loyal and honest. When his best friend chooses the Above at the same time as Bay, he seeks out Rio. They form a friendship, that turns to love in true Condie fashion. It is very reminiscent of the relationship that built between Cassia and Ky. I honestly believe I've found my new book boyfriend.
The Plot - World building at its best!
Atlantia would not have worked for me if it hadn't been for the beautiful descriptions and the slow immersion into Rio's world. Ally Condie does a fantastic job at this. It's no wonder that she is a best selling author! The descriptions of the underwater city and their way of life is described as it occurs to the character. It's easily developed as Rio thinks about different events in her life, like the description of the Divide during chapter one as Rio and Bay get ready to chose if they will go Above or stay Below. I'll be honest, when I read the synopsis I was expecting a mermaid story. That isn't the case! This is a dystopian world, set into the future. It's wonderfully written and of course one of my favorite genres.
My Conclusions
Obviously, if you've read this far, you know I love this book! Ally Condie is phenomenal. I was a bit hesitant starting the book because I loved her Matched series so much. It was the first book I read that was a dystopia and it hooked me to the genre. There was no reason for me to be hesitant! Every word, every character, every plot twist is memorable. I found myself reading as fast as possible and late into the night because I couldn't leave Rio and True. I had to know what was going to happen with the sirens and if Rio would make it Above.
I can safely say that this is a new favorite book of mine and while I did receive a copy for review, I will be buying (or possibly requesting from my hubby for Christmas) a copy. Though there is no mention that there will be a sequel, and it does end without a cliffhanger, I believe the author has left it open to bring back the characters or their world and tell more about them. If not, it's a great standalone! If you enjoy young adult fiction, if you enjoyed the Matched series, if you enjoy dystopian worlds in general, I highly suggest you get this book asap. It's not one to be missed!
Atlantia by [a:Ally Condie|1304470|Ally Condie|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1361564387p2/1304470.jpg] is an incredible story about two sisters, their love for one another, one's betrayal, and the other's search for the truth. Rio Conwy is eighteen years old and a siren living in the underwater city of Atlantia. She has always dreamed of going Above. On the anniversary of the Divide, all eighteen year olds make a choice to go Above or stay Below. After losing their mother, Bay, Rio's twin sister, begs her to stay Below with her, to not leave her alone. Rio reluctantly makes that decision. However, Bay doesn't. She leaves Rio Below for the Above. Rio is heartbroken, alone, angry, and determined to get to the Above and find out why her sister would leave her.
Character Breakdown
Love Rio!!!! Oh my goodness, I cannot say enough how much I love this character. Rio is broken when we first see her. During the very beginning pages of the book, she is grieving for her mother that has been dead only a few months and a father she never knew. Then her sister leaves her Below and she is now grieving and angry. Rio is strong, determined, and fierce. She has a way about her that other's notice and seem to like her for. But she is also a siren. Sirens in this world are hated and feared, when they use to be revered. So for her entire life she has hid this part of herself. Can you imagine the strength it would take to hide a part of yourself? I can't, but she does and does for a majority of the book. I find her very brave!
I've had to spend my life hiding my voice, and she's had to spend her life protecting me, and that's not what either of us would have chosen. We've both suffered because of what I am.Though Bay technically isn't in the book very much, she is a central character. Through Rio's thoughts, the reader gets to know Bay. Rio believes she is the kinder sister, the more thoughtful. And she is definitely the sister to work in the temple as she cares for the people in a way Rio believes she never could. At first, I felt sorry for Rio and kind of disliked Bay because of what she does to Rio, but as the book progresses and motives are revealed I fall in love with her. She is just as brave and selfless as Rio believes her to be.
No, not because of what I am. Because of the way people fear those who are different, when really we are so much the same. ~ Rio Conwy
Then there is True, the handsome boy Rio meets in the temple. Though he's never seen sun, Rio describes him with sun-kissed skin and eyes the color of soil. (Rio's favorite color is brown ;) ) True is like his name, faithful, loyal and honest. When his best friend chooses the Above at the same time as Bay, he seeks out Rio. They form a friendship, that turns to love in true Condie fashion. It is very reminiscent of the relationship that built between Cassia and Ky. I honestly believe I've found my new book boyfriend.
The Plot - World building at its best!
Atlantia would not have worked for me if it hadn't been for the beautiful descriptions and the slow immersion into Rio's world. Ally Condie does a fantastic job at this. It's no wonder that she is a best selling author! The descriptions of the underwater city and their way of life is described as it occurs to the character. It's easily developed as Rio thinks about different events in her life, like the description of the Divide during chapter one as Rio and Bay get ready to chose if they will go Above or stay Below. I'll be honest, when I read the synopsis I was expecting a mermaid story. That isn't the case! This is a dystopian world, set into the future. It's wonderfully written and of course one of my favorite genres.
"I can help you get Above," Maire says, her voice fading, haunting. "But it has to be soon. We are running out of time. Can't you hear the way the city is breathing?"This last question is asked over and over again in the book. It's haunting and a reminder that more is going on than Rio realizes. Rio's only concern is to get Above and find her sister. But she slowly uncovers information about the sirens, the new minister, her mother's mysterious death, and she finds herself with only one person she completely trusts, True. Both hide secrets from each other though and Rio makes it her mission to uncover the truth once and for all.
My Conclusions
Obviously, if you've read this far, you know I love this book! Ally Condie is phenomenal. I was a bit hesitant starting the book because I loved her Matched series so much. It was the first book I read that was a dystopia and it hooked me to the genre. There was no reason for me to be hesitant! Every word, every character, every plot twist is memorable. I found myself reading as fast as possible and late into the night because I couldn't leave Rio and True. I had to know what was going to happen with the sirens and if Rio would make it Above.
I can safely say that this is a new favorite book of mine and while I did receive a copy for review, I will be buying (or possibly requesting from my hubby for Christmas) a copy. Though there is no mention that there will be a sequel, and it does end without a cliffhanger, I believe the author has left it open to bring back the characters or their world and tell more about them. If not, it's a great standalone! If you enjoy young adult fiction, if you enjoyed the Matched series, if you enjoy dystopian worlds in general, I highly suggest you get this book asap. It's not one to be missed!
