ARC Review: INK by Amanda Sun

Publication date: June 25

Ink is in their blood. On the heels of a family tragedy, Katie Greene must move halfway across the world. Stuck with her aunt in Shizuoka, Japan, Katie feels lost. Alone. She doesn't know the language, she can barely hold a pair of chopsticks and she can't seem to get the hang of taking her shoes off whenever she enters a building. When Katie meets aloof but gorgeous Tomohiro, the star of the school's kendo team, she is intrigued by him…and a little scared. His tough attitude seems meant to keep her at a distance, and when they're near each other, strange things happen. Pens explode. Ink drips from nowhere. And unless Katie is seeing things, drawings come to life. Somehow Tomo is connected to the kami, powerful ancient beings who once ruled Japan—and as feelings develop between Katie and Tomo, things begin to spiral out of control. The wrong people are starting to ask questions, and if they discover the truth, no one will be safe.

Summary from Amazon


I was so excited for this book. SO excited! I featured it in a WoW post. I stalked ARCs around the internet before finally landing one from NetGalley. (Thanks!)

Here's the thing: In recent months, I decided to only review books I REALLY liked. I read about five books per month, but review a tiny portion of those.
 Geeking out levels of hardcore fangirl nonsense are required for me to review a book lately. I have a bazillion kids, and I'm desperately trying to squeeze, contort, and bludgeon my day into some shape that allows time for writing my own work. So to sum up: If I review it here, it's because I thought it was stupendous.
 And INK wasn't one of those for me. However, since I got it from NetGalley I feel like I owe them a review. And I should explain why the book wasn't a huge success with me, as a reader.
And let me kind of bracket all this with another disclaimer: for me as a WRITER, the book is great! Sun does some lovely things with words, creating ink drawings that live and are alternately ethereal and sinister. She brings them all to magical life, and when the fantasy elements of the story are at the front, Amanda Sun really shines. (Y'all, it is so late at night...I didn't even see that pun coming until it hit me between the eyes.) Plotting, structure, placing: all of it's solid.
So to close brackets, I will say my discontent with the book is based solely on 1) my misunderstanding of what its focus would be and 2) me being a thirtyish housewife who wanted to give these young whippersnappers a good sit-down, preferably with a glass of sweet tea, and talk real plain to them both. (That's primarily for my friend, Hannah, who has recently been treated to my Southernism with alarming frequency. And while we're doing sidebars and dancing around the actual review, I'm gonna take a moment to say that Hannah West, writer of YA amazingness, has a new blog and I think y'all should go over and say "HI!"
Hannah West Author's Blog

I went in thinking there would be more god activity. I was expecting lots of mythology and legend, with some romance on the side. Reverse those, and you'll get a better idea of what INK is like.
Is that bad? No, not necessarily. Just depends on what you're in the mood for.
The story itself is well-written, and I think Ms. Sun has done a great job with her debut. The scene with the cherry blossoms is particularly enchanting. My problem with the book was strictly because it wasn't what I was thinking it would be.
And to a certain extent, that's because I'm old. I told my  CP partner as I was reading INK, "I think I'm just too old for this book...I keep wanting to give Katie a "make good choices" speech and some motherly advice."
Because here's the thing:  Katie see this guy fighting with his girlfriend, who just found out he got another girl pregnant. He was cold and kind of cruel to her, like he didn't even care. Then Katie hears he put his best friend in the hospital a few years ago.
Now *MINOR SPOILERS* we find out none of the awful things everyone thinks about Tomo are true, that he's manufactured his badboy reputation to "protect" those he cares about ...BUT...Katie doesn't know this. She is so curious to know more about him, she's following the guy around town, trying to figure out his deal, and musing over his gorgeousness while most of the available evidence suggests he's a cheating dirtbag psycho. She doesn't believe it, and is determined to prove her theory that he's not bad.
Oh, but he really does have a friend who is affiliated with the Yakuza (the Japanese mob). Tomo continues to be his buddy and sometimes helps him rough people up? Me googling Yakuza led me into some weird parts of the internet, people....I don't want to hang out with people associated with the Yakuza, because some of their businesses are pretty bad news.
Therefore: Tomo, you are also in danger of Mama Sarah's "make good choices!" speech.
 For every questionable choice Katie made, I could see her own internal logic, and why she felt she had to do this. But I still felt like she shouldn't!
When the ink and it's mysterious powers are in play, that's when I was most interested in the story. The romance was less of a draw for me, and I would really love more lore and backstory on the Japanese gods, and what exactly Katie's connection is to them. I suspect this is all coming in the second book.
Content: Sexual situations-- A couple of kisses. Tomo makes Katie think he's only interested in her physically in an attempt to make her angry and push her away. (*Oh, hey there, Will Herondale...Just thought about that scene where you did the same thing to Tessa at the end of "Clockwork Angel"...how'd you sneak back into my mind? I'd made it a whole month without thinking about your wonderful Welsh self...*)
Language: I did a Kindle search on the word "sh**" because it struck me that the characters say this a lot more often than in any other book I've read. I think there were 112 instances highlighted? That might not be exactly right, but if you don't like cursing in books I felt like I should point it out. There are several f-bombs also.
Violence: Must not have been too much, because I can't remember any. But honestly, I can read some pretty violent stuff and not even notice.

ARC Review: "Insomnia" by J.R. Johansson

Summary courtesy of Goodreads:
Instead of sleeping, Parker Chipp enters the dream of the last person he’s had eye contact with. He spends his nights crushed by other people’s fear and pain, by their disturbing secrets—and Parker can never have dreams of his own. The severe exhaustion is crippling him. If nothing changes, Parker could soon be facing psychosis and even death.

Then he meets Mia. Her dreams, calm and beautifully uncomplicated, allow him blissful rest that is utterly addictive. Parker starts going to bizarre lengths to catch Mia’s eye every day. Everyone at school thinks he’s gone over the edge, even his best friend. And when Mia is threatened by a true stalker, everyone thinks it’s Parker.

Suffering blackouts, Parker begins to wonder if he is turning into someone dangerous. What if the monster stalking Mia is him after all?   

Paperback, 360 pages

Expected publication: June 8th 2013 by Flux

I've got a book hangover from this novel, y'all. I stayed up entirely too late reading it. Then I got up, fixed my children cereal, and hid out in the bathroom so I could have some peace and finish it. (Didn't work...They found me!)


Insomnia, the debut YA novel from J.R. Johansson, is unlike anything I've ever read. The closest comparison I can come up with might be "The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer," We have a protagonist who may or may not be losing his mind, and he's unsure what he's capable of.
Parker's burning obsession with figuring out if he's really the bad guy of the story was engrossing. I was sucked into his story from the first, as he struggled to hold his fracturing sanity together.


The pacing of the book is stellar. Everything just hums along from start to finish, with no middle section sag. There's a dash of romance, and I was pleasantly surprised to realize it wasn't with the girl I assumed it would be. However, the focus of the story is firmly set in Parker's mission to uncover the truth about Mia (the girl whose dreams give him rest), who is stalking her (is it Parker himself?), and his rapid descent into what appears to be psychosis. And when Parker really starts to doubt his sanity, things get pretty dang creepy. I love it when I start a book with no expectations, either good or bad, and end up being really impressed! The world of dreams and of Watchers and Dreamers was unique. I loved how Johansson explained the layers of the dreamworld, and how memories and dreams worked together.
And another thing: I was SO glad when Parker confided in his friends about his problem. I mean, how many times does a character in a YA book have something supernatural and scary going on, and they flatly refuse to tell anyone?? My only very small complaint was: why didn't Parker ever tell his mother? I know he didn't want to worry her, but having her think he was a drug addict certainly wasn't helping. He was able to convince his peers, I felt like he could've at least done the same for his mother.

Content--
Language: There's no profanity in this book.
Sexual Content: one kissing scene (maybe two, but nothing too graphic). In Parker's investigation, he learns that a female character has been sexually abused. Reference is made to another character having been raped, although this didn't happen in the storyline.
Violence: There's a considerable amount of violence, some of it pretty disturbing, both in the dreams Parker sees and in real life. One character in particular seems to have trauma after trauma to deal with.

The end leaves the reader with enough resolution to have a sense of closure, while leaving the door wide open for a sequel.



Review copy provided by NetGalley and Flux. Thank you!

Review: The Runaway King by Jennifer A. Nielsen

A kingdom teetering on the brink of destruction. A king gone missing. Who will survive? Find out in the highly anticipated sequel to Jennifer A. Nielsen's blockbuster THE FALSE PRINCE!


Just weeks after Jaron has taken the throne, an assassination attempt forces him into a deadly situation. Rumors of a coming war are winding their way between the castle walls, and Jaron feels the pressure quietly mounting within Carthya. Soon, it becomes clear that deserting the kingdom may be his only hope of saving it. But the further Jaron is forced to run from his identity, the more he wonders if it is possible to go too far. Will he ever be able to return home again? Or will he have to sacrifice his own life in order to save his kingdom?
The stunning second installment of The Ascendance Trilogy takes readers on a roller-coaster ride of treason and murder, thrills and peril, as they journey with the Runaway King!
*summary from Amazon*

When I was reading THE FALSE PRINCE and then its sequel, THE RUNAWAY KING, I kept thinking, "Wow,  my son would really like these books." And I thoroughly enjoyed them, too.
Things my 5th grade kid would dig about these books:
1.They're fast moving
2. There's a lot of action and derring-do.
3. There are swords.
4. And knives.
5. And pirates.
6. And lots of fighting.
There's also not a whole lot of the things he doesn't like-- introspection and angst and dwelling on feelings.
We have stuff to DO, folks, and no time to sit around pondering our emotions in this series. Plus, Nielsen doesn't get carried away with romance, although there's a smidge of it for flavoring.

Kevin, relax. It's totally NOT a kissing book

The suggested age range is 10 and up, but I'm going to be honest: some of the political maneuvering in the beginning might be hard to follow for a younger reader. Or...you know.... for me. But that's ok, because there is swashbuckling to be done and brave escapes and whatnot!
Jaron shows some great character growth in this book. He matures, and there's a somewhat unexpected redemptive arc with another "bad guy" character that I really liked. Granted, I spent a lot of time echoing the adults in Jaron's life, ie: "This is a TERRIBLE plan and I am quite certain you will DIE!" but at the same time, I sympathized with Jaron. He kind of knew his chances weren't great, but he felt like he had no other options.
Sidebar: did anyone else notice lines from The Princess Bride here and there in the book??
 I can't find my notes (typical), but I for sure noticed "Drop your sword" and "Prepare to die"...
 Gold star stickers for anyone who also noticed them! :) I really hope Jennifer Neilsen did this on purpose as a nod to that movie. Because I adore The Princess Bride.
And I am easily distracted...
Back to the review!
THE RUNAWAY KING was a great addition to the series, and I look forward to seeing what's next for Jaron and his kingdom.
Content: I can't remember any profanity (there might be some milder curse words, though, so don't hold me to it), or sexual situations. There's a fair bit of violence though, given that Jaron spends a good deal of this book with pirates. And let's face it: Those guys have anger management issues.
*Review copy provided by NetGalley. Thank you!!*

Review: Fragments by Dan Wells (Partials Sequence 2)

Summary:
Kira Walker has found the cure for RM, but the battle for the survival of humans and Partials is just beginning. Kira has left East Meadow in a desperate search for clues to who she is. That the Partials themselves hold the cure for RM in their blood cannot be a coincidence--it must be part of a larger plan, a plan that involves Kira, a plan that could save both races. Her companions are Afa Demoux, an unhinged drifter and former employee of ParaGen, and Samm and Heron, the Partials who betrayed her and saved her life, the only ones who know her secret. But can she trust them?

Meanwhile, back on Long Island, what's left of humanity is gearing up for war with the Partials, and Marcus knows his only hope is to delay them until Kira returns. But Kira's journey will take her deep into the overgrown wasteland of postapocalyptic America, and Kira and Marcus both will discover that their greatest enemy may be one they didn't even know existed.

The second installment in the pulse-pounding Partials saga is the story of the eleventh hour of humanity's time on Earth, a journey deep into places unknown to discover the means--and even more important, a reason--for our survival.(less)    

Hardcover, 564 pages

Published February 26th 2013 by Balzer + Bray


There are lots of YA dystopian novels where the premise is a weeeeeee bit farfetched. If the story and characters are engaging, I can overlook it and still enjoy the book.
(Example:  Delirium by Lauren Oliver. Could there come a time when the government looks at the rotten state of humanity and says, "You know what caused this mess? LOVE. It's a disease. We're going to cure our citizens of love and then life will be peachy."

yeah, sure...ok!

No.
(But I still liked Delirium. Man, I need to finish that series!)

And then you've got dystopian societies where the premise sounds like it actually could happen, and it's chilling and worrisome and it adds a new layer to the story.

Partials and Fragments are those kinds of books. A future where genetic modifications, the US's desire for military might, and the public's obsession with improving their health, looks, longevity, etc. all combine into a perfect storm that  DESTROYS CIVILIZATION seems disturbingly plausible.

These books make me think. A lot. Dan Wells keeps the plot moving and at the same time sneaks in thought provoking issues about  the moral ambiguities of war, and makes the reader question what he or she would do in the situations Kira, Samm, Marcus, and the rest of the characters are in. What would you do for freedom? What wouldn't you do? How do you define freedom? Do the needs of many outweigh the few? Is there any price too high to pay for survival? Do I need an Excedrin now?

I did a good bit of thoughtful frowning

 

 

 Things I liked: We finally find out what Kira is, we get more info on RM, ParaGen, Nandita, Kira's dad, and how the heck things came to be the disaster that they are. And we get to see more of Samm. I feel stupid typing his name with two M's, I'm not going to lie, but his character really grew on me. I think the idea that Partials experience a full range of human emotions but have no idea how to express them in an acceptable  human fashion is really heartbreaking and fascinating. They're not machines, but their inability to interact (they don't use body language, facial expressions, etc...probably don't have gifs on their blogs) has caused people to think they're less than human.

So what makes a person human? Is human necessarily better than Partial? Why? Questions...so many questions!

I liked Kira more in this book, although I'm struggling to say why. I kept thinking, "This is a bad idea, Kira!" over and over, but I couldn't figure out what a better option would've been. I admired her ability to just keep moving forward. Kira finds herself in some really terrible situations, most by her own design, but in the end we see that she is a much more selfless character than it first appeared.

Things I wasn't crazy about: The book is long. The ARC I read has 564 pages, and I think it could've been tightened up. Some of the journeying Kira, Samm, Heron, and Afa do got pretty tedious. I wanted them to hurry it  up, and sometimes I skimmed. But you really don't need to skim with this book, because bombshell info or even character deaths will just sneak up on you like a ninja. Or a Partial. Then you'll be all, "WHAT? What just happened?" And you'll have to re-read and be frustrated you didn't get it the first time through.

Because, re-reading the same couple of pages you just read is bothersome...also...




So true.

Content: Not much cursing, plenty of heavy violence, two kissing scenes.

The book ends on a cliffhanger, and I am really invested in these characters so I hope the next book comes out relatively soon.  For those hoping for romance, there's not very much. But if you're trying to save two entire races of sentient beings from extinction, I guess that's understandable.
Maybe.

Have y'all read this book?? Tell me what you thought!

 

Review: Ultraviolet by RJ Anderson

Publication Date: September 1, 2011

"Once upon a time there was a girl who was special. This is not her story. Unless you count the part where I killed her."

Sixteen-year-old Alison wakes up in a mental institution. As she pieces her memory back together, she realizes she's confessed to murdering Tori Beaugrand, the most perfect girl at school. But the case is a mystery. Tori's body has not been found, and Alison can't explain what happened. One minute she was fighting with Tori. The next moment Tori disintegrated--into nothing.

But that's impossible. No one is capable of making someone vanish. Right? Alison must be losing her mind--like her mother always feared she would.

For years Alison has tried to keep her weird sensory abilities a secret. No one ever understood--until a mysterious visiting scientist takes an interest in Alison's case. Suddenly, Alison discovers that the world is wrong about her--and that she's capable of far more than anyone else would believe.

I was telling someone the other day I had this brilliant idea for a YA novel about a girl who has synesthesia and how this abilitiy tied into supernatural stuff...

And then I found out that book already exists and it's called Ultraviolet.
 
So kudos, RJ Anderson, for having the idea 1) first and 2) better than I did! I really had no idea what I'd do with the synesthesia, but Anderson took it in a really cool direction. I'm not sure why I haven't seen more about this book, given that it's such a cool departure from a lot of YA sci-fi stuff.

You think you've read every twist on "teenage girls who are special" in the genre, but then there's Allison, seventeen years old and in a mental institution after having a breakdown and maybe killing a classmate. The truth of what happened to Tori, Allison's role in her disappearance, and the real extent of Allison's abilities are all revealed slowly over the course of the book. Backstory is added in tiny, well-measured drops and I appreciated that. It held my interest and kept me guessing.

And the writing...oh, my, the delicious adjectives. You can get away with such luciously descriptive writing when your narrator is a synesthete. If any other teenage girl described things like Allison does, you'd probably roll your eyes. But given the peculiar and intense way she experiences the sensory input makes it belieavable. And beautiful.

Ultraviolet is an unusually character driven book. Everyone in the story, even the minor characters, are well-rounded and have their own issues to deal with. No one is as simple as they first appear.

As for the romance: I've seen some reviewers note that the relationship between Faraday and Allison made them uncomfortable because of their age difference. Full disclosure: me too! And then my internal hypocrite alert when *ding!* and I remembered this is the same age gap between me and my husband, and we met when I was sixteen.  But from the perspective of a 31 year old woman, I still found myself thinking, "Heads up, Ally...There's something off about this whole deal." :)  It's somewhat explained later on how he's not *technically* that much older than her, but it would give away a major plot point for me to explain so....sshhh.

Content: It's a really clean book, with a couple of kissing scenes, one of which was against a character's will. I thought that was handled well though. There wasn't any cursing that I can recall and minimal violence.

The pacing of the book is a wee bit slower than I'm used to. I listened on audiobook, and I found myself on occasion wishing the action would pick up and that the characters would get a change of setting. When they actually do leave the facility, the change of setting is a MAJOR one!

The sequel, Quicksilver, is already out and I'm adding it to my TBR pile. Ultraviolet gives the reader closure at the end, but at the same time a big opening is left for the next book and I'd like to see where the series goes.

ETA: Ok, Quicksilver is a companion novel, not a sequel. It's from the POV of Tori, not Allison. Just wanted to clear that up.

ARC Review: Poison by Bridget Zinn

Sixteen-year-old Kyra, a highly-skilled potions master, is the only one who knows her kingdom is on the verge of destruction—which means she’s the only one who can save it. Faced with no other choice, Kyra decides to do what she does best: poison the kingdom’s future ruler, who also happens to be her former best friend.

But, for the first time ever, her poisoned dart…misses.

Now a fugitive instead of a hero, Kyra is caught in a game of hide-and-seek with the king’s army and her potioner ex-boyfriend, Hal. At least she’s not alone. She’s armed with her vital potions, a too-cute pig, and Fred, the charming adventurer she can’t stop thinking about. Kyra is determined to get herself a second chance (at murder), but will she be able to find and defeat the princess before Hal and the army find her?

Kyra is not your typical murderer, and she’s certainly no damsel-in-distress—she's the lovable and quick-witted hero of this romantic novel that has all the right ingredients to make teen girls swoon.

 

Release date: March 13, 2013

Publisher: Disney Hyperion

 

 

I was on the ARC tour for this book through Southern Book Bloggers ARC Tours. Thanks, ladies!


I was kind of worried about this book before I started reading it. I mean, girl assassins can be great but things can also get...um....dark. And I'm not in the mood for gritty, tough books at the moment.

My worries were unfounded, and I knew it as soon as I picked up the book because of this back cover copy:



A RECIPE FOR POISON

Ingredients:
* Magicla kingdom in peril
* Potions master (flavor: feisty)
*Evil princess (distilled from former best friend)
* Tiny pig (with essence of adorable)
*Handsome ruffian (must be funny, charming, good at rescuing; best if smells nice)
Blend with romance, add a dash of enchatment, mix well for mayhem, and drizzle in humor.
WARNING: Contents may be irresistible.

 

If that weren't enough to tell me what kind of book this would be, do you see that cute piglet on the front cover, peeking out from behind Kyra's leg?? I didn't notice him at first either, but I think it's safe to say nothing too upsetting it going down in a book with a baby farm animal on the cover.

"Poison" was charming. That's the word that struck me as I read the first two pages, and the feeling stuck with me throughout.  It's light, and reminded me of a sitcom in book form. No matter how tangled everything seemed, it all worked out at the end and everything was just fine. Also like a sitcom, I never doubted that the happy ending was in the making.
There we enough plot twists and surprises to hold my interest. Several characters aren't who we think they are, and finding out their true identities was part of the fun.

 I found Kyra a likeable lead, and her stubborn determination wasn't overbearing. And Fred was a sweet love interest.

Zinn distills the backstory of why Kyra tried to poison Princess Ariana very slowly, in little bits and pieces. Flashbacks of the girls growing up together gave insight into both their characters, and I wondered what in the world could've made Kyra feel she simply MUST murder her friend. That kept me turning pages, as did the constant apperances made by Fred, despite Kyra's best efforts to ditch him and get on with her mission.

The fantasy world and its magic are different and I found them entertaining. I don't think I've read a book where potions played a huge part before, so that was interesting.

As far as content, there is very little violence, no sexual content (unless you count one or two very minimally described kiss), and just an occasional mild curse word.

I was deeply saddened to learn that author Bridget Zinn passed away in 2011. She was a gifted story teller, and Poison was a delightful debut novel.

BBH: A Long Train Ride...

Question: You're on a long train ride. Which books will you bring to read?

Answer: When we adopted our daughter from Ukraine, we had to take a sixteen hour train ride to get to her orphanage. Let that sink in...sixteen hours. And we did it three times...
 So while I sometimes have to really think about my answer to bookish questions, I've got this one! :)
The Harry Potter series.
There's the train connection with the Hogwarts Express. (Although I have to say my own train experience wasn't nearly as charming as Harry's first ride to school. No chocolate frogs in sight! Although I didn't have any Dementors after me like he did on another Hogwarts Express ride, so that's always a plus...)
And the HP series is long enough to keep you busy for a good long while, too. And they're just plain fun. I read some of Goblet of Fire to my son last night and I'd forgotten how quickly and completely I get sucked into those books. Every. Single. Time. :)

And if not HP, then I'd work on my Review TBR list. I've got  an ARC of "The Runaway King" by Jennifer Neilsen that I'm reading right now, and it's a fast-paced, fun adventurous read that would help pass the time.

**The Book Blogger Hop is a feature created by Billy at Rambling of a Coffee Addicted Writer. Feel free to answer the question and join the hop!**

Online Author Event

Do y'all remember when I freaked out in total fangirl glee about "Seraphina" by Rachel Hartman?? No??
Here's a reminder: THE REVIEW OF GUSHING ADORATION



So I was delighted when Figment (the online community for readers and writers) asked me to let y'all know about an upcoming event they're hosting.  Here are the details:

Join Random House authors RACHEL HARTMAN (Seraphina, New York Times bestseller and Morris Award winner), ELIZABETH LABAN (The Tragedy Paper), and ALEXANDRA MONIR (Timeless), along with Knopf Books for Young Readers editor ERIN CLARKE,for a live chat on Figment.

Thursday, February 28, 2013 at 7:00 p.m. ET http://bit.ly/InStoresNow

The event will include a half-hour moderated question-and-answer period.

Praise for Seraphina: “Full of grace and gravitas. Readers loath to turn the last page of this lush, intricately plotted fantasy will rejoice in the knowledge of next summer’s as-yet-untitled sequel.” — Washington Post
Praise for Tragedy Paper: “relatable and unusually gripping, even for an older reader...Romantic love, hard work, loyalty, friendship, suffering: Like the great tragedies that inspired the novel, it's all here. LaBan's take on adolescent life is rendered in the sweet, intelligent tradition of John Irving, but without any of the prep-school genre's self-satisfaction.” — Philadelphia Inquirer
Praise for Timeless: “a captivating romance and mystery spanning three decades of high-society life and intrigue in New York City." — Amazon Best Books of the Month


Sounds fun, right?  Be sure to follow the link to their giveaway!


 

THE REVIEW OF GUSHING ADORATION

Book Blogger Hop: Printed books or E-readers

I'm joining the Book Blogger Hop hosted by Billy at Ramblings of a Coffee Addcited Writer because one of my favorite book bloggers in the world, Susan at Bloggin' 'bout Books told me about it!

Question: Which do you prefer most: a printed book or an Ereader?


Answer: BOTH! I used to be firmly against e-readers until I went out of the country for several weeks and realized how dang beautiful it is to have unlimited books in a tiny, portable device.
But I still prefer a printed book if it's one  I really, really have been wanting to read. Even though I'll usually do a giveaway or take a printed copy to a local resale shop when I'm done with it, the more I've been anticipating a book, the more I want to hold it's ink-and-paper pages in my hands. Especially if it has a pretty cover. I'm kind of a sucker for a pretty cover! :)

400 Follower Giveaway Winner/ Incarnate Mini-Review

Random.org has spoken....And
Congratulations to ERIKA on winning The Name of the Star and The Madness Underneath in my 400 Follower Giveaway!

And thank you, Followers! You people make me happy!


NOW:


Incarnate by Jodi Meadows...


Summary:
New soul

Ana is new. For thousands of years in Range, a million souls have been reincarnated over and over, keeping their memories and experiences from previous lifetimes. When Ana was born, another soul vanished, and no one knows why.

No soul

Even Ana's own mother thinks she's a nosoul, an omen of worse things to come, and has kept her away from society. To escape her seclusion and learn whether she'll be reincarnated, Ana travels to the city of Heart, but its citizens are afraid of what her presence means. When dragons and sylph attack the city, is Ana to blame?

Heart

Sam believes Ana's new soul is good and worthwhile. When he stands up for her, their relationship blooms. But can he love someone who may live only once, and will Ana's enemies—human and creature alike—let them be together? Ana needs to uncover the mistake that gave her someone else's life, but will her quest threaten the peace of Heart and destroy the promise of reincarnation for all?

Jodi Meadows expertly weaves soul-deep romance, fantasy, and danger into an extraordinary tale of new life.

(Prepare for a teeny-tiny review while my kids are distracted watching Brother Bear.)

I finished this book a week ago and I'm still pondering certain aspects. Which is, in a way,  a sign of a successful book.

 It hit me in the thinky bits, and I have so many questions...Here are a few off the top of my head.
(The natives are restless and have adbandoned their TV watching. I'll make it quick!)

1. The world Ana lives in: Is it medieval? Is it modern? A mixture? I am confused...

2. If there are a million souls reincarnated over and over, are they all living in Heart? Are they living in other places too? How big is this world?

3. Even if there are a sum total of only one million people on Earth, would 5,000 years be long enough to have a working knowledge of everyone's personality? It sounds that way in the book, but I'm not so sure...

4. Did anyone else end up staring into space wondering, "Would I love my true love if he/she showed up in  totally different physical packaging next time?"

5. Is anyone else more than a little troubled by the idea that you might be a soul's parent one lifetime, then maybe their child another time?

6. Is anyone else disturbed by Sam and Stef being sometimes BFFs, then sometime lovers, depending on what bodies they're in during any given life?

7. Does anyone else picture Sam--who is a muscian--like this and have to fight a tendency to forgive all that creepiness due to adorablility?


7. No? Just me? OK.

8. How much of who we are is dependent not on our souls alone but also on what we experience in life? And does the physical body we inhabit affect this to a substantial degree?

9. Why do I suddenly feel like I'm writing an Intro to Philosophy textbook?

I closed the book feeling muddled in several ways:
 On the one hand=Dragons. Always a plus.
 On the other=somewhat confusing world-building and philosophical questions bombarding me.
 Then again=way to write a romance, Jodi Meadows!

I sat and rambled about the book to my husband, who just gave me a "WHAT?" kind of look. Then I knew I'd have to take it to other readers to get a proper discussion going.


People who have read INCARNATE chime in...am I the only one who had so many questions and unexpectedly DEEP THOUGHTS on identity and what makes us who we are while reading a book a girl in love with a five thousand year old guy ( who is sometimes not a guy, depending on his current incarnation)?? Are any of my questions answered in ASUNDER?