{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.

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