{Audiobook} Review: Unraveled by Gennifer Albin

Title: Unraveled
Author: Gennifer Albin
Narrator(s): Amanda Dolan
Series: Crewel World, book #3
Length: 7 hrs 50 mins
Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Publication Date: October 7, 2014
Source: from publisher via Audiobook Jukebox
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible

Autonomous. Independent. Dangerous. They tried to control her. Now she’ll destroy them.

Things have changed behind the walls of the Coventry and new threats lurk in its twisted corridors. When Adelice returns to Arras, she quickly learns that something rotten has taken hold of the world and Cormac Patton needs her to help him reestablish order. However, peace comes at a terrible price. As the Guild manipulates the citizens of Arras, Adelice discovers that she’s not alone, and she must let go of her past to fight for mankind’s future. She will have to choose between an unimaginable alliance and a deadly war that could destroy everyone she loves.

I loved Crewel but I have to admit that my interest in this series has seriously waned as it's progressed. I'd actually liken my enjoyment of this trilogy to that of the Divergent trilogy: where the first book was kind of epic in its uniqueness, the sequel was still pretty good, but the final installment just left me so unsatisfied.

That's not to say that the elements I enjoyed in the previous books weren't still there. I enjoy Albin's writing style. I loved how rebellious her heroine was. And I delighted in how deliciously evil her villain was, even if I still held out hope that he might be redeemed before all was said and done. But I felt like this series had me zig-zagging across the galaxy, when in reality, we were only really dealing with two parallel worlds: Earth and Arras -- or new Earth, as I liked to think of it. And by that, I mean it was kind of all over the place in terms of plot.

The romance, i.e. the love triangle, was pretty much handled in the previous book, I think, so I'm not going to spend too much time on that. I'm in favor of the path it took, but not so much where it ends up, if what I read into that ending is any implication of where it's headed. I listened to this a couple of weeks ago before I got sick, and I remember there was a tender moment/scene, but I believe that's pretty much all Adelice got before war between the rebels and the Guild broke out. I didn't expect this finale to be a romantic book, but still.

Ugh, and the worst part is how rushed that ending felt. Now, I'm a girl who dislikes gift-wrapped happily ever afters, so I appreciate an open ending or one that doesn't necessarily leave me with the warm and fuzzies. But the ending of Unraveled just felt so...pivotal and yet lackluster at the same time. Like, it should have been gut-wrenching, but instead, I just felt kind of numb to it all. Some of it was expected but some of it came out of nowhere, with no explanation and no hope for one. It was as if I were just expected to accept it and move on. Or the characters were expected to, anyway. Either way, it left me kind of bitter over the whole thing.

Amanda Dolan narrated all three books in this series, and I thought she did a decent job portraying Adelice and the fight she had ahead of her. I remember thinking nothing about her performance stood out to me in the previous books, and that's still true, though I do recall really enjoying the smarmy voice she gave to Cormac Patton.

I'm sad that I didn't enjoy this final book more, but I'm not put off reading anything else the author writes because of it. It could have been that I had really high expectations for this finale or the fact that I was hoping for more romance. So, I'm not going to hold those things against the author's future works. Hopefully, I'll find another favorite like Crewel among them.

GIF it to me straight:

About the author:

I'm a recovering academic who discovered I could write books of my own and people would read them! I live in a perfect coastal village in Washington state with my family, but spend most of my time in Arras and other fantastical new worlds.

I appreciate strong coffee and bold imaginations, prefer my heroines with sass, and am always searching for my next big adventure.

My debut novel, CREWEL, was written during NaNo ’10 and I now sit on the official National Novel Writing Month Advisory Board. I’m represented by Mollie Glick of Foundry Literary + Media.

Find Gennifer:

Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Tumblr | Pinterest

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Labels: audiobooks, crewel world, dystopian, fantasy, gennifer albin, macmillan, multiverse, reviews

{Audiobook} Review: Altered by Gennifer Albin

Title: Altered
Author: Gennifer Albin
Narrator:  Amanda Dolan
Series: Crewel World, book #2
Length:  10 hrs 2 mins
Publisher: AudioGo
Publication Date: October 29, 2013
Source: from publisher via Audiobook Jukebox
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible

Life. Possibility. Choice.

All taken from Adelice by the Guild—until she took them back.

But amid the splendid ruins of Earth, Adelice discovers how dangerous freedom can be. Hunted by soulless Remnants sent by Cormac Patton and the Guild, Adelice finds a world that’s far from deserted. Although allies are easy to find on Earth, knowing who to trust isn’t. Because everyone has secrets, especially those Adelice loves most. Secrets they would kill to protect. Secrets that will redefine each of them. Torn between two brothers and two worlds, Adelice must choose what to fight for.

In this thrilling sequel to Crewel, Adelice is about to learn how tangled up her past and future really are. Her parents ran to protect her, but nothing can save her from her destiny, and once she uncovers the truth, it will change everything.

It's been a year or more since I read Crewel, and I thought I'd need a refresher before starting the sequel. I didn't re-read the first book, though, and honestly, it might not be necessary for most because Altered doesn't really feel like a true sequel.  Gone are the Spinsters and Guild and that creepy Cormac of Arras, replaced with Sunrunners and an equally creepy Kincaid on what is left of our Earth.  A lot of the key players from Crewel are still here, though, so don't fret.

Altered picks up right after the ending of Crewel.  Like, the very same moment.  There wasn't much rehash in the beginning of the book, which like I said, I didn't think was very necessary, anyway.  But pivotal moments from Crewel are expanded upon later in the story as other issues come to light, and it's all woven together in a satisfying way.  Well, satisfying for me...it might make others' heads explode.  Some of the juxtapositions between Arras and Earth are really going to have your head spinning, especially after certain revelations are made.  But it's all for the betterment of the story, and though it's all kind of crazy, I heartily approve.

Since Altered takes place on Earth, a lot of the history of Arras is revealed, as well as some of the details of the fall of normal civilization on Earth.  Through this, we get to see some of Kincaid's motivations, as well as Cormac's, and because of this, I think I have a better understanding of both worlds.  It's like seeing both sides of a coin, seeing the Crewel World in its entirety for the first time.  This book is largely about uncovering secrets and conspiracies, and so there isn't a lot of action, but that's typical of a second book. But like I said earlier, this doesn't feel like a sequel...make of that what you will.

As far as characters go, there were some surprising appearances, but for the most part, I feel like the book largely focused on the three lovers we ended with in Crewel.  At the end of book one, I think Erik was kind of the odd-man out; he had feelings for Adelice but it seemed clear she'd made her choice and it was Jost.  In my review of Crewel, I remember being rather neutral about both boys.  Nothing stood out about either one, at least not to me.  But things have changed in Altered.  Jost has placed a great emphasis on finding his daughter and reuniting Adelice with her sister, while Erik seems more in tune with Adelice.  There's a reason for that, but it's best discovered on your own.  Suffice it to say, the love triangle is still in existence...it's just taken an unexpected turn, if you will.  One that I'm on board with.  The back and forth is still there, maybe more so than in the previous book, but I'm really invested in the direction it's taken.

The narration of the audiobook was average.  Nothing stands out about it, but it was well-executed. I've only listened to one other book narrated by Amanda Dolan, but I'd definitely consider others from her repertoire. The fact that there was nothing exceptional about the presentation isn't necessarily a bad thing because it also means that she didn't do any of those things that irritate me in an audiobook performance.

As much as Crewel was a thinking book -- a confusing, complicated ride through Crazy Town -- I felt like Altered was kind of like the light at the end of the tunnel.  You know you're finally getting some answers, and it's about freaking time.  And then the train derails and shatters that vision.  There's not a cliffhanger, per se...it's more like the train has come to an unfinished portion of tracks over a giant gorge.  Something major happens at the end of the book that leaves the door wide open for more crazy but no one is in immediate danger...not yet, anyway.  I'm really looking forward to how Albin wraps up this series...and I fully expect a lot more crazy before this ride comes to an end.

About the author:

I'm a recovering academic who discovered I could write books of my own and people would read them! I live in a perfect coastal village in Washington state with my family, but spend most of my time in Arras and other fantastical new worlds.

I appreciate strong coffee and bold imaginations, prefer my heroines with sass, and am always searching for my next big adventure.

My debut novel, CREWEL, was written during NaNo ’10 and I now sit on the official National Novel Writing Month Advisory Board. I’m represented by Mollie Glick of Foundry Literary + Media.

Find Gennifer:

Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Tumblr | Pinterest

Read More

Labels: audiobooks, cover redesigns, crewel world, dystopian, gennifer albin, macmillan, reviews

Review: Crewel by Gennifer Albin

Title:  Crewel
Author:  Gennifer Albin
Series:  Crewel World, book #1
Publisher:  Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
Publication Date:  October 16, 2012
Source:  ARC from publisher
Purchase:  Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Incapable. Awkward. Artless.

That’s what the other girls whisper behind her back. But sixteen year-old Adelice Lewys has a secret: she wants to fail.

Gifted with the ability to weave time with matter, she’s exactly what the Guild is looking for, and in the world of Arras, being chosen as a Spinster is everything a girl could want. It means privilege, eternal beauty, and being something other than a secretary. It also means the power to embroider the very fabric of life. But if controlling what people eat, where they live and how many children they have is the price of having it all, Adelice isn’t interested.

Not that her feelings matter, because she slipped and wove a moment at testing, and they’re coming for her—tonight.

Now she has one hour to eat her mom’s overcooked pot roast. One hour to listen to her sister’s academy gossip and laugh at her Dad’s stupid jokes. One hour to pretend everything’s okay. And one hour to escape.

Because once you become a Spinster, there’s no turning back.

Crewel is one of those books that starts and just never stops. It's a book that makes you think and ponder the possibilities until your head hurts. It also serves as a kind of cautionary tale.

Have you ever read a book that made you just want to crawl inside the pages and live there forever? Yeah, this isn't that kind of book. The Crewel world, while complex and solidly established, is everything we fought so long ago to rid ourselves of. In Crewel, women are second-class citizens and subservient to the men of their world. Granted, the technology of this world far surpasses anything we've yet to discover, but is never growing old and curing the "incurable" diseases worth losing all control over your life and becoming like the complacent, docile citizenry of Arras?

Although I found this world fascinating, I often also found myself confused. The weaving of time was explained several times throughout the story, but I still had trouble wrapping my brain around it. But I rather liked the complexity of it...the fact that I had to re-read passages several times to truly grasp the idea. After all, if altering the fabric of time were an easy concept, wouldn't everyone be able to do it? Remember that loom that spit out the "kill" list in Wanted? That was some unexplainable craziness, too, but it made for an intruiguing story.

The Spinsters were an interesting lot. It seemed that everyone in the Coventry was harboring a secret or dishonorable intentions. I questioned character motivations many times, and though some of the smaller subplots were a little predictable, given the nature of the story, they felt like they were still a natural course for the story to take. Forced predictability is the worst kind, but luckily, Crewel doesn't devolve into that territory.

Now that Adelice is a Spinster, she's got to prove herself. She's a clever girl but a little impulsive, and those reckless tendencies cause her way more strife than any one girl should have to deal with. I loved the way she handled herself, whether it be matters of the heart or her own safety. The two love interests -- yes, the romance in this novel is slightly triangular in nature, though it's more of an obtuse triangle...you know, where two points are closer together than the others -- aren't anything special, really. I mean, I did love the background story on each boy and the extra layer of depth it gave them, but aside from that, they were your typical, swoon-worthy rogues.

I guess I shouldn't call Erik and Jost rogues, though, when scoundrels like Cormac Patton are roaming around freely in Arras. I have a love-hate relationship with Cormac...I love to hate his character. He's that villain who doesn't think himself evil. Cormac is supposed to be quite the heartthrob...the terminal bachelor. But he's such an arrogant prick and his pompous attitude toward Adelice leaves something to be desired. Oh, but he plays the part of the elegant, well-groomed politician soooo well. And you know what? He might just be my favorite character in Crewel. He reminded me a lot of Stephen Fry's character in V for Vendetta, except with some seriously evil intentions.

Crewel is a fast-paced, flying-by-the-seat-of-your-pants kind of book. It drops you in the middle of Crazy Town and leaves you with no way out but also a burning desire to find one. This is one fantastic debut novel, and after that insane ending, I guarantee I'll be picking up subsequent installments in Adelice's story.

Rating: 

Interested in this novel but still not convinced?  Check out the chapter sampler being offered:  Amazon | Barnes & Noble.

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Labels: book trailers, crewel world, dystopian, gennifer albin, macmillan, post-apocalyptic, reviews, sci-fi

Teaser Tuesday #28: Crewel by Gennifer Albin

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!


This week's teaser comes from the following book:

Title:  Crewel
Author:  Gennifer Albin
Series:  Crewel World, book #1
Publisher:  Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
Publication Date:  October 16, 2012
Source:  ARC from publisher
Purchase:  Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Incapable. Awkward. Artless.

That’s what the other girls whisper behind her back. But sixteen year-old Adelice Lewys has a secret: she wants to fail.

Gifted with the ability to weave time with matter, she’s exactly what the Guild is looking for, and in the world of Arras, being chosen as a Spinster is everything a girl could want. It means privilege, eternal beauty, and being something other than a secretary. It also means the power to embroider the very fabric of life. But if controlling what people eat, where they live and how many children they have is the price of having it all, Adelice isn’t interested.

Not that her feelings matter, because she slipped and wove a moment at testing, and they’re coming for her—tonight.

Now she has one hour to eat her mom’s overcooked pot roast. One hour to listen to her sister’s academy gossip and laugh at her Dad’s stupid jokes. One hour to pretend everything’s okay. And one hour to escape.

Because once you become a Spinster, there’s no turning back.

My teaser:

"Yes, I could, but that's not why I'm here.  You must make the hard choice, Adelice, before you can move forward.  Decisions must be made.  Often between life and death.  It is hard to make a decision to save thousands when it compromises one."  Her voice is a hollow whisper, and ghosts echo in her eyes.  "It is easier not to be put in that position."  -- p. 177 of ARC

I feel such compassion for Adelice.  She's been put through so much already and what's being asked of her as the story progresses just becomes harder and harder to fathom.

Side note:  I love this synopsis.  It's concise and to the point without giving away the whole plot of the story.  I'm so tired of reading spoilers in book summaries!

Interested in this novel but still not convinced?  Check out the chapter sampler being offered:  Amazon | Barnes & Noble.

Read More

Labels: crewel world, dac 2012, dystopian, gennifer albin, macmillan, post-apocalyptic, teaser tuesday