Book Review: You Are Mine

I hope everyone had a wonderful summer. I know I did. Lots of family fun, mostly camping. Today I'' be reviewing You Are Mine by Janeal Falor. The author contacted me and offered me a copy of the book in return for my honest review. This in no way effects my final review of this book.

Title: You Are Mine

Author: Janeal Falor

Series: Mine #1

Publisher: Chardonian Press LLC

Original Publication Date: May 6, 2013

Format Read: kindle

Genre: YA Fantasy

Purchase: Amazon

Find on Goodreads

Description from Goodreads:
Serena knows a few simple things. She will always be owned by a warlock. She will never have freedom. She will always do what her warlock wishes, regardless of how inane, frivolous, or cruel it is. And if she doesn't follow the rules, she will be tarnished. Spelled to be bald, inked, and barren for the rest of her life—worth less than the shadow she casts.

Then her ownership is won by a barbarian from another country. With the uncertainty that comes from belonging to a new warlock, Serena questions if being tarnished is really worse than being owned by a barbarian, and tempts fate by breaking the rules. When he looks the other way instead of punishing her, she discovers a new world. The more she ventures into the forbidden, the more she learns of love and a freedom just out of reach. Serena longs for both. But in a society where women are only ever property, hoping for more could be deadly.

Wow! I loved this book. I found it to be exemplary. The description sounded good and I sampled the first chapter before agreeing to read for review. When I was done, I was floored. I really don't know exactly how the author found me, but she really had me pegged. This book was almost perfect for me. There was really only one thing that I didn't understand, but if I were to pick out an ideal type of book that I love to read, this book would be one of them. I am looking forward to seeing where the author goes with this series. 

This entire book is from Serena's POV. She lives in a society where women are owned. Their value is based on how much magic there is in their blood. The higher the magic, the more they are worth. Women are basically used to breed more warlocks. Boys are tested early on in their childhood to see how much magic is in their blood. Girls are only tested after they have reach the eligible age for marriage and want to be put in the marriage pool. People without magic or that break the rules are tarnished, which basically means you are really low on the totem pole and have even less rights. 

Whether Serena wants to or not, her father enters her into the marriage pool and she is bought by a man at least as cruel as her father. He wants to meet her and her family, so they all travel to watch a tournament. Warlocks compete to see who is best. Those who die during the tournament have ALL of their possessions given to the warlock who beat them. Serena's intended does pretty good in the tournament until he goes up against a barbarian from Envadi, Zade, where he dies. 

Serena is clearly stressed out by being won by a barbarian and her father is not happy either. He works to try to get her back so he can sell her off to the next highest bidder. Serena is sent to one of the new homes that Zade has won. Like the description states she skirts and breaks the rules expecting to be punished, like her father does constantly, only for him to look the other way. Zade is not the barbarian she thought he was and he and the follow people from Envadi just might be more civilized than the one she lives in.

I really liked it, there was some predictable romance, a little coming of age and finding out who you really are, learning how to stand up for yourself, etc...The world the author came up with I thought was pretty interesting. I hope in the next book that Serena gets to go visit Envadi and see the country first hand. That could be interesting reading about her discovering the world beyond her country. 

The only thing that I don't quite understand is how the magic works. Clearly boys are trained on the use of magic, but I didn't hear of any girls accidentally discovering how to use their own magic. I would assume it would happen at least occasionally. I can also see the men in the country wanting to keep that secret from the women to make sure they stay in line. In the next book I would also love to see Serena actually being trained in how to use her magic. That could be interesting too. 

I also could probably have went for a touch bit more romance, but I think for that to have really worked, we would have also needed Zane's POV and that might have ended up giving away too much of the plot. He wouldn't have been the mystery guy anymore. 

If you find your tastes in books is similar to mine, than you will really like this book. You might even love it. I definitely recommend. I look forward to reading more of this series. 

My Rating: 

Fun, Busy Summer

Hello, everyone! I just want to apologize for not being very active on my blog this summer. My family has been very busy camping and enjoying other activities. Once fall rolls around, I plan on being more active again. In the meantime, if you want to check out my reviews, you can find them on Goodreads and on Amazon. Feel free to follow me or add me as a friend.

I hope you are enjoying your summer as much as I am :)

Book Review: Becoming a Legend

I loved the first book, The Legend of the Blue Eyes by B. Kristin McMichael, so much that the author graciously supplied me with a copy of the second book in the series. This in no way effects my final review of this book.

Title: Becoming Legend

Author: B. Kristin McMichael

Series: The Blue Eyes #2

Publisher: Lexia Press

Original Publication Date: June 6, 2013

Format Read: kindle

Genre: YA Paranormal

Purchase: Amazon

Find on Goodreads

Description from Goodreads:
Arianna Grace is about to turn seventeen and her life has been very complicated lately. She is the leader of four clans of night humans: dearg-dul, baku, tengu, and lycan. While the four clans seem to get along better with each other, there is internal conflict on both sides of her family, not to mention the three boys vying for her attention.

Edward Lucan is making a chase for the power to lead the baku clans and is playing his cards by using his nephew Andrew to lure Arianna into a trap. Unfortunately for Lucan, Andrew has his own plans. He has spent the last year waiting for Arianna to see him as more than a friend, and he now finds it necessary to make a move for her affection, despite his uncle.

In the dearg-dul estate, Arianna discovers that the ambitious Lord Seeger has been laying his own strategies for power and is slowly poisoning her. After getting away with her grandfather's murder, he is setting his sights on her. Luckily for Arianna, her team is on to all of the plans and is making some plans of their own. Will it be enough to keep Arianna safe? Several people close to Arianna have been keeping secrets. If Arianna is to take power and control of the night, she will need to know the truth. Will someone finally tell her what it truly means to become the legend everyone is waiting for, before it is too late to turn back?

This book picks up about a year later from the first book. For most of the book Arianna remains just as ignorant about the world of night humans as she did in the first book, except it's a year later. I felt like she should have known a little more at the beginning of this book. I felt like she should have been training both physically and mentally during that year to truly be the leader of the four clans. But clearly she hasn't.

While I liked it, I did not like it as much as the first book. For me, it felt like it suffered a little bit from The Middle Book Syndrome. The entire time I was reading it, I felt like it was just setting me up for the final book in the series. Which I do have to say based on where book two ends, sounds like it will be an awesome end to the series. Plot-wise though, I didn't really feel like this book had it's own individual story arc in the series. Maybe I missed it? That's not to say that you don't continue to learn new things about the world McMichael created, you do. It's a whole lot bigger than we are lead to believe in the first book. You also learn a little bit more about the legend and there is some plotting from various bad guys on how they can either kill Arianna or use her to get the power they crave. 

With all of that being said, I'm still looking forward to the third book, Winning a Legend. 

My Rating:

Book Review: Hex Hall

Good evening everyone! Today I'll happily be reviewing Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins. It is the first book in the Hex Hall series.  

Title: Hex Hall

Author: Rachel Hawkins

Series: Hex Hall #1

Publisher: Hyperion Books

Original Publication Date: March 2nd 2010

Format Read: kindle

Genre: YA Paranormal

Purchase: Amazon

Find on Goodreads

Description from Goodreads:

Three years ago, Sophie Mercer discovered that she was a witch. It's gotten her into a few scrapes. Her non-gifted mother has been as supportive as possible, consulting Sophie's estranged father--an elusive European warlock--only when necessary. But when Sophie attracts too much human attention for a prom-night spell gone horribly wrong, it's her dad who decides her punishment: exile to Hex Hall, an isolated reform school for wayward Prodigium, a.k.a. witches, faeries, and shapeshifters.

By the end of her first day among fellow freak-teens, Sophie has quite a scorecard: three powerful enemies who look like supermodels, a futile crush on a gorgeous warlock, a creepy tagalong ghost, and a new roommate who happens to be the most hated person and only vampire student on campus. Worse, Sophie soon learns that a mysterious predator has been attacking students, and her only friend is the number-one suspect.

As a series of blood-curdling mysteries starts to converge, Sophie prepares for the biggest threat of all: an ancient secret society determined to destroy all Prodigium, especially her.

I've been wanting to read this book for a while now as it kept popping up everywhere with a few places even suggesting it might be the book for me, based on other books I've read. Boy were they right! I really liked this book, it might even be love. I'm sure part of it is because Rachel Hawkins clearly grew up around the same time I did and shares the same wonderful sense of humor I do.  

Like the description states, you follow Sophie, who does quite have a handle on her magic. She discovered she was a witch at the age of 13. She's gotten into trouble a few times, but so far her absent father has been able to get her out of it. But, on prom night when Sophie tries to help out a girl by pulling off a little spell, it goes off a little TOO well. The fall out is that her father can no longer protect her and she is sent off to live at Hex Hall until she is 18. 

However, once Sophie arrives she quickly realizes exactly how woefully unprepared she is to live at such a place and just how ignorant she is about her powers and the world of witches, warlocks, faeries, and shapeshifters. She quickly ends up being the target of mean girls and bumbles her way into trouble. Thankfully, she has one refuge, her room and her roommate, Jenna. Jenna herself is an outcast, the only vampire student at the school. 

This isn't just your regular school book though, there is more to the story. There is a mystery as a few of the students have ended up dead, appearing to have been drained of their blood. Who is there number one suspect? Why Jenna, of course. Sophie just knows that Jenna wouldn't do such a thing, so she works to try to figure out who really did it. 

There is also some budding romance, a ghost, some awesome pop culture references, as well as some surprising twists and turns to the story. It is a pretty fast read, although that could have been because I was so into the story, that I just kept reading, and reading, and reading...

I highly recommend checking out this book and I think Rachel Hawkins has just added herself onto my list of go-to authors. I can't wait to read the next book in the series.

My Rating: 

Novella Review: Dark Child: Episode Three

Good evening everyone! Today I'll be reviewing Dark Child: Episode Three by Adina West. It is the third book in the Dark Child series.  I received a copy of this book for free in return for my honest review, through the Never Too Old For Y.A. Books Group on Goodreads. However, I received a copy of the book directly from the author's publisher. This in no way effects my final review of this book. 

Title: Dark Child: Episode Three

Author: Adina West

Series: Dark Child #3

Publisher: Momentum Books

Original Publication Date: April 1, 2013

Format Read: kindle

Genre: YA Paranormal

Purchase: Amazon

Find on Goodreads

Description from the publisher:

Dead? Kat clenched her fists, her stomach a writhing tangle of knots. Her pulse thundered in her ears.

Had this all been an elaborate ruse to trap her? The platelet study; the offer to come and work at the Hema Castus Research Institute; the special attention from Director Norris … Surely they’d have had no way of knowing who she was. Still, if the Directorate controlled Hema Castus, and the Directorate wanted her imprisoned, even dead, everything took on a much more sinister light. And anyway, why did the Directorate want her dead?

Kat has always known she’s special. Different. But finding out why is still a shock, especially when she discovers the malevolent Directorate, a clandestine organization of untold power, have put a price on her head.

Forced into hiding in the remote White Mountains, Kat’s life is suddenly in the hands of the wild and dangerous unalil. But trusting her new protectors isn’t easy, since they seem almost as terrifying as the killers who pursue her . . .

This is a novella-length episode of Dark Child. This is part three of five.

This novella picks up where the last one left off. Kat is still processing the fact that Char has told her she is not human. So, we finally get into the nitty gritty with this episode a bit with Kat finally no longer being clueless about the world around her. In this episode Kat also has to flee to New York to get away from those that are hunting her. Things definitely are getting more intense too. 

Like with the first two episodes as time goes on our list of characters continues to grow. My favorite of the new characters we meet is Akilina. She is a very old Dark Child, who can craft metal into amulets with protective runes specific to each person after reading them. 

Overall, I liked this episode the same as I liked the first two. I have come to two conclusions at this point though, 1) I would just go ahead and by the complete Omnibus edition and skip buying the individual episodes and 2) At this point I'm not sure how everything is going to get resolved in two more episodes. 

I feel I should also comment that according to the publisher, this series of episodes would be great for fans of The Mortal Instruments. I'm going to have to say I don't necessarily agree with that assumption. Yes, it is an urban fantasy series and yes there are vampires or night children, but I feel that is a completely different world with a completely different writing style. I feel a more accurate statement would to just say that this series would be great for urban fantasy or paranormal readers and call it good at that. 

So, if you are a fan of urban fantasy or paranormal books, I would recommend maybe giving this series a try, but I would recommend just getting the omnibus edition or picking up all five episodes at one time. I look forward to seeing what the next two episodes bring. Happy Reading!

My Rating: 

Novella Review: Dark Child: Episode Two

Good morning everyone! Today I'll be reviewing Dark Child: Episode Two by Adina West. It is the second book in the Dark Child series.  I received a copy of this book for free in return for my honest review, through the Never Too Old For Y.A. Books Group on Goodreads. However, I received a copy of the book directly from the author's publisher. This in no way effects my final review of this book. 

Title: Dark Child: Episode Two

Author: Adina West

Series: Dark Child #2

Publisher: Momentum Books

Original Publication Date: March 1, 2013

Format Read: kindle

Genre: YA Paranormal

Purchase: Amazon

Find on Goodreads

Description from the publisher:
A crawling unease stirred deep within Kat. She shifted a little further away from Char. Finally she spoke, her voice fracturing the tense silence.

“Who are you, Char?”

Kat doesn’t want to question her luck too closely when she lands a fabulous Manhattan apartment only blocks from her new job, even if cab drivers do have a funny habit of driving right past her antiquated apartment building without seeing it.

But the quiet building hides a deadly secret, and when Kat meets Char from down the hall, she’s drawn into a hidden world where humans aren’t welcome, populated by beings as dangerous as they are beautiful. Soon Kat’s neck-deep in trouble and on the run, and discovering the truth about her own unique heritage might just make things worse.

This is a novella-length episode of Dark Child. This is part two of five.

This novella picks up almost where the last one left off. Kat has accepted her new job and is in New York looking for a place to live that is within easy walking distance to work. While she initially has trouble she eventually lucks out. Although there does seem to be something strange about her new apartment building.

Besides Kat, you are introduced to a few new characters in this episode. I found these new characters to be interesting. I normally don't care for more than two or three POVs in a story, but so far the multiple POVs are working for me in this one. I am amused that as I reader I know more about what is happening to Kat than she does.

One of the new characters we meet is Char, who immediately realizes there is something different about Kat. She calls it in to the big guys and is immediately tasked with protecting her until they can send someone over to investigate. 

I'm really hoping to find out more in the third episode, as this one ended a little abruptly. Thankfully, I am in possession of the third episode, that I plan on reading ASAP.

My Rating: 

Novella Review: Dark Child: Episode One

I hope everyone is enjoying their summer so far. Today I'll be reviewing Dark Child: Episode One by Adina West. It is the first book in the Dark Child series.  I received a copy of this book for free in return for my honest review, through the Never Too Old For Y.A. Books Group on Goodreads. However, I received a copy of the book directly from the author's publisher. This in no way effects my final review of this book. Over the next couple of days I'll be posting reviews for the first three episodes.

Title: Dark Child: Episode One

Author: Adina West

Series: Dark Child #1

Publisher: Momentum Books

Original Publication Date: February 1, 2013

Format Read: kindle

Genre: YA Paranormal

Purchase: Amazon (free as of this posting)

Find on Goodreads

Description from the publisher:
Kat can run a marathon without breaking a sweat. Catch anything you throw at her. Differentiate blood types by smell alone. And she’s spent years hiding the fact. But secrets from the past have a way of slipping out when least expected, and a simple blood test is enough to turn her quiet life in the shadow of the Appalachian Mountains upside down forever.

Kat’s been craving raw meat. When she visits a psychic she’s told her life is about to change forever. Kat isn’t so sure change is a part of her plan, but when a fabulous job offer to work for a research organization comes her way, she’s tempted to say yes and make the move to New York. It just might be her chance to find out if there are others in the world like her.

Will her dream job bring answers to her questions or will it lead her into more trouble than she could ever imagine?

This is a novella-length episode of Dark Child. This is part one of five.

In this novella or episode you are introduced to Kat. She lives in South Charleston and works as a pathologist. She hasn't been feeling well lately, so she sneaks a peak at her own blood-work. What she finds isn't normal, but then again she has a bunch of other strange quirks. What does this mean? Well, for Kat her strange blood work just might be the ticket to moving up in her organization with a great job offer in New York. 

In the beginning and the end of this novella, you are also briefly introduced to Amarok. A man who has been secretly keeping an eye on Kat all these years to keep her safe. He thinks she is the one they have been waiting for to save them and bring about peace. 

I have to say, I am intrigued about both of these characters. I have read a few different novella/episode types of books and this is a pretty good start to one. You get to see what Kat's current world is all about, her family, her job, her friend, etc...You know a little bit less about Amarok and his family, but you do get a glimpse and I'm sure there will be more in the upcoming episodes. 

Even within this short novella a fair amount of the mythology is revealed to the reader while still leaving plenty of mystery for the future episodes. You don't fully know what's going on, but want to know more. I look forward to reading more episodes of this story. 

My Rating: 

Book Review: Reaper's Novice

Good evening, today I'll be reviewing, Reaper's Novice by Cecilia Robert. It is the first book in the Soul Collector series.  I received a copy of this book for free in return for my honest review, through the Never Too Old For Y.A. Books Group on Goodreads. However, I received a copy of the book directly from the author. This in no way effects my final review of this book.

Title: Reaper's Novice

Author: Cecilia Robert

Series: Soul Collector #1

Publisher: Self-Published

Original Publication Date: January 8, 2013

Format Read: kindle

Genre: YA Paranormal

Purchase on Amazon: paperback / kindle (can borrow for free with Amazon Prime)

Find on Goodreads

Description from Goodreads:
17- year- old Ana Maria Tei’s life has always been perfect: loving parents, good grades, and a future so bright it outshone the sun. But now words like “separation” and “divorce” are sending her world plummeting to hell. Determined to keep her family intact, Ana plans a family-bonding trip from Vienna to Tuscany. Except fate has other plans. Ana’s parents and siblings are killed in a car accident on their way to pick Ana up from school.

Enter Grim, aka Ernest. He promises to relinquish the four souls if Ana agrees to trade her soul for theirs and serve a lifetime as his novice. In order for Ana to graduate from her Reaper’s Novice station to a Soul Collector graduate, Grim puts her to test. To her horror, she finds out becoming a Reaper’s Novice didn’t happen by chance. It was preordained, and she is forced to make a choice: save her family’s souls or come to terms with who she really is and complete the task set for her.

I have to say that I'm a little conflicted with this book, so I'm going to break it down by what I liked and didn't like.

What I liked:

1. The cover. Isn't it pretty? I love the position the girl is standing in, how she is holding the violin, and even how you can see her soul/aura wisping around her.

2. The premise of the story (read the description). 

3. The characters. I felt that all of the characters were pretty well rounded and fleshed out. They are all very believable with both their behavior and dialogue between one another.

4. Some of the writing and descriptions. I like how all of the different soul colors are described. I also really liked the death scenes and how the taking of the souls is described as well as all of the scenes describing where the souls are put afterwards, etc...

5. The setting of the book. This is the first book I've read that takes place in Vienna.

What I didn't like:

1. The pacing of the book. It is painfully slow and made it easy for me to put the book down. It took me about a week to read this book, when normally it takes me about 2 days to read a book like this.

2. How the author constantly withholds information that would help move the plot along. It gets pretty tedious and old after a while. I really feel the story could have benefited better with the author giving us more information sooner. I know this is the first book in the series, but not everything needed to be withheld until almost the end of the book. It was especially annoying with characters constantly pointing out that they can't give Ana that information yet.

3. Information overload. While the plot moves along slowly you are overloaded with a bunch of information. About how there are different races of people from different worlds. A war brewing. A complicated backstory as the reasoning behind the war. Worrying about friends and family and why they may be acting strange. It goes on and on. Especially towards the end when a lot of the information that the author had been holding back comes out.

4. No map. I would have really liked if this book had a map of Vienna in the beginning with some of the frequented areas marked. I really think it would have been nice. 

To summarize: 

I really liked the idea behind the story, but think it could have been executed better. Maybe an overall outline of the entire series and then breaking up the story a little different. I would have been okay with the first book ending before it ended with the information being discovered over time (not constantly put off until later). I'm clearly not a professional editor, but one might be able to help adjust the story to make it better.

Overall, I might check out the second book in the series. Especially, since I finally got answers towards the end of the first book. I would certainly expect for the second book to start off running with better pacing and with less information being purposely withheld. 

My Rating:  (Mainly because the ending finally picked up)

Book Review: Unbreakable

The finale book I'll be reviewing today is Unbreakable, the final book in the Unraveling duology. 

Title: Unbreakable

Author: Elizabeth Norris

Series: Unraveling #2

Publisher: Balzer & Bray / HarperCollins

Original Publication Date: April 23, 2013

Format Read: kindle

Genre: YA Science Fiction

Purchase: Amazon

Find on Goodreads

Description from the publisher:
Four months after Ben disappeared through the portal to his home universe, Janelle believes she'll never see him again. Her world is still devastated, but civilization is slowly rebuilding, and life is starting to resume some kind of normalcy—until Interverse Agent Taylor Barclay shows up, asking for Janelle's help. Somebody from an alternate universe is running a human-trafficking ring—kidnapping people and selling them on different Earths. And Ben, with his unique abilities, is the prime suspect. Now his family has been imprisoned and will be executed if Ben doesn't turn himself over within five days. When Janelle learns that someone she cares about—someone from her own world—has become one of the missing, she knows that she has to help Barclay, regardless of the danger.

Now Janelle has five days to track down the real culprit. Five days to locate the missing people before they're lost forever. Five days to reunite with the boy who stole her heart. But as the clues begin to add up, Janelle realizes that she's in way over her head—and that she may not have known Ben as well as she thought. Can she uncover the truth before everyone she cares about is killed?

In this heart-pounding sequel to Unraveling, author Elizabeth Norris explores the sacrifices we make to save the people we love and the worlds we'll travel to find them.

I have to say, after reading the first book, Unraveling,  I wasn't sure what Elizabeth was going to write for the second book in the series. She could have very easily just left the first book open ended or tweaked the ending a little and been done with the story. Overall, I'm glad she didn't. I enjoyed the second full length novel, although, not quite as much as the first book. 

The sudden jump from the last story to human trafficking was a little bit of a stretch for me or at least a change of pace. Nevertheless, I could easily see where there are multiple universes how people could take advantage of that. Elizabeth Norris even managed to write a good story about it. On the other hand, I could have more easily seen a book strictly about Janelle and everyone trying to rebuild after the disaster at in the first book and Ben coming back to help, with some universe travel thrown in. I think that could have been an equally entertaining novel.

One of the things I really liked about this novel is the evolution of Agent Barclay. I enjoyed learning about his character, he really grew on me. I also like how much stronger Janelle becomes through out the book. Knock the girl down, give her a really hard task, and she manages to rise up and overcome the problem.

I think anyone who enjoyed the first book and maybe the novella, would most likely enjoy the conclusion in this series. I look forward to seeing what Elizabeth Norris comes up with next.

If you liked the Unraveling series, you might also like The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan (4 Stars) or Slide by Jill Hathaway (3 Stars).

My Rating: 

Book Review: Undone: An Unraveling Novella

The second thing I'll be reviewing today is Undone. I picked this novella up after reading Unraveling and was not disappointed.

Title: Undone: An Unraveling Novella

Author: Elizabeth Norris

Series: Unraveling #1.5

Publisher: Balzer & Bray / HarperCollins

Original Publication Date: March 5, 2013

Format Read: kindle

Genre: YA Science Fiction

Purchase: Amazon

Find on Goodreads

Description from the publisher:
Riveting and romantic, Undone: An Unraveling Novella contains three short stories set in the world of Unraveling, the first book in the gripping sci-fi duology by Elizabeth Norris.

Before Ben Michaels saved Janelle Tenner's life, Janelle saved Ben when he stumbled through an interuniverse portal into a completely new world. That day, he fell in love with the girl of his dreams. And he never forgot her.

Through three stories told from Ben's point of view, learn how Ben and his friends discovered their ability to travel between worlds, how Ben first met Janelle, and how he pined for her for years before he actually got the chance to meet her, save her life, and capture her heart. And find out what happens to Ben between the cliff-hanger conclusion of Elizabeth Norris's Unraveling and the beginning of its heart-stopping sequel, Unbreakable.

Since this is a novella, this will be short. I LOVED seeing Ben's point of view. Each little story is a short little gem. Not only do you learn more about Ben; how he got to Janelle's world, how he pinned for Janelle for years, as well as his perspective on when he saved her; through his eyes you learn more about Janelle too! I enjoyed every minute of it. 

My Rating: 

Book Review: Unraveling

I want to thank all of the men and women, who have fought and died to make sure our country is still free. Happy Memorial Day! 

Today I will be reviewing BOTH books in the Unraveling duology, as well as the short novella that goes along with them.

I was really looking forward to reading Unraveling and I was not disappointed.

Title: Unraveling

Author: Elizabeth Norris

Series: Unraveling #1

Publisher: Balzer & Bray / HarperCollins

Original Publication Date: April 24, 2012

Format Read: kindle

Genre: YA Science Fiction

Purchase: Amazon

Find on Goodreads

Description from the publisher:
Like The Forest of Hands and Teeth, Elizabeth Norris’s Unraveling blends realistic coming-of-age issues with a gripping science fiction world.

Unraveling’s heroine, sixteen-year-old Janelle Tenner, is used to having a lot of responsibility. She balances working as a lifeguard in San Diego with an intense academic schedule. Janelle’s mother is bipolar, and her dad is a workaholic FBI agent, which means Janelle also has to look out for her younger brother, Jared.

And that was before she died…and is brought back to life by Ben Michaels, a mysterious, alluring loner from her high school. When she discovers a strange clock that seems to be counting down to the earth’s destruction, Janelle learns she has twenty-four days to figure out how to stop the clock and save the planet.

I really liked this book. I found the ideas to be very interesting. The very basic concept made me reminisce about watching Sliders years ago (I know this dates me). I found the story-line to be a very believable science fiction story. It's possible, if you are a hardcore science nerd, you might find some fault, but I was easily able to go along with the story.

One of the things I found most interesting about this novel is the point of view. You follow Janelle's point of view. Janelle does not have any special powers. She is just a girl who was brought back to life by Ben. Ben is the one with a special power or ability. Normally with these types of books you follow the person with the special ability's point of view. That is not the case here. However, it works. You get to discover what is happening at the same time that Janelle does. 

I not only liked Janelle, I liked all of the main characters in the book. They are all very realistic characters, people that could very easily exist in real life just a few doors down from you. I eagerly anticipate the further novels in this series. 

If you liked Unraveling there is a pretty good chance you will also like Undone: An Unraveling Novella and Unbreakable, the next books in the series currently available. You might also like The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan (4 Stars) or Slide by Jill Hathaway (3 Stars).

My Rating: