Title: Untold
Author: Sarah Rees Brennan
Series: The Lynburn Legacy, book #2
Publisher: Random House BFYR
Publication Date: September 24, 2013
Source: purchased
Purchase: Amazon |
Barnes & Noble
Free from bonds, but not each other...
It’s time to choose sides… On the surface, Sorry-in-the-Vale is a sleepy English town. But Kami Glass knows the truth. Sorry-in-the-Vale is full of magic. In the old days, the Lynburn family ruled with fear, terrifying the people into submission in order to kill for blood and power. Now the Lynburns are back, and Rob Lynburn is gathering sorcerers so that the town can return to the old ways.
But Rob and his followers aren’t the only sorcerers in town. A decision must be made: pay the blood sacrifice, or fight. For Kami, this means more than just choosing between good and evil. With her link to Jared Lynburn severed, she’s now free to love anyone she chooses. But who should that be?’
Oh, the angst! The denial! The sacrifices!
I loved
Unspoken...in fact, I think I might have deemed it my favorite read of 2012. And I was crushed by that ending...hopelessly crushed, as many readers were. I didn't know if I'd ever be able to pick up the pieces of my wrecked heart after what Brennan did to it.
But the heart is a frail, fickle thing, and as much as I wanted to despise the author for what she put me through in the first book, I also wanted to give her the chance to make amends with
Untold, to pick me up and put me back together after the heartbreak I suffered. Kinda like Kami needed to be put back together.
Many have despaired at the lack of action, the lack of forward movement in this sequel. And it's kind of true...this book doesn't really serve to advance the story much. There's a war brewing between those evil sorcerers led by Rob Lynburn and those who wish only to protect Sorry-in-the-Vale. But it's like the most mild-mannered war ever. There is a battle scene, and it does get kind of cray-cray, but other than that, the two opposing sides seem almost pleasant toward each other.
This book mostly revolves around Kami amassing an army of her own and preparing them for battle. She entrusts Rusty and Angela to teach them all self-defense moves. Rusty. *sigh* Kami helps mastermind a plan to aide the magical and non-magical folks alike in disposing of the evil sorcerers' powers, if only temporarily. She even brushes up on her history of the Lynburns and Sorry-in-the-Vale in hopes of discovering some secret that helped destroy the evil Lynburns all those years ago. Essentially, Kami really takes charge of the situation, but I don't think we'll really see any of this come to fruition until the next book, sadly.
But where others are claiming the story suffers from the banter and quips, I have to disagree. That was one of the more resplendent qualities in the first book, and I was glad to see that it survived, even if the link between Kami and Jared didn't. (And boy, do I miss
that.) I guess I'm just really happy about it because after the ending in
Unspoken, I was just so afraid that Jared would go missing, as love interests are wont to do in sequels. But he's there...or at least as present as Jared Lynburn ever is. And he's grumpy as all get out.
This book is just so damn angsty. I mean, I get it...after having been able to talk to each other without ever uttering a word, after knowing what each other was thinking for their entire lives, not being able to read each other is really taking a toll on Jared and Kami. And then there are just
so many misunderstandings and things left unsaid and
gah...So. Many. Feelings. And not just with Kami and Jared. There's the weirdness between Angela and Holly. And it seems like Rusty may have developed a little crush of his own. And Ash is steadfastly trying to get out of the friends zone, with little success. Poor guy can't catch a break, but I guess them's the breaks when you help your crazy dad with his blood sacrifices in order to gain more power.
Maybe this sequel didn't quite live up to my expectations, but those expectations
might have been were
wholly unrealistic to begin with. I think this second installment did just what a sequel is supposed to do: built upon a world I've already come to love and entirely cemented my affection for the characters I've grown to care for so completely. And so, even though I was really disappointed with the cover redesign -- and I mean REALLY disappointed -- I still think this book was awesome. The series thus far is among my favorites, as is most of what Sarah Rees Brennan writes.
(And I always picture Knives when I think of Kami. :D)
In case you missed it,
The Night After I Lost You is a short story told from Ash's POV, and it's free
here.
About the author:
Sarah Rees Brennan is Irish and currently lives in Dublin. For a short stint, she lived in New York and became involved with a wide circle of writers who encouraged and supported her, including Holly Black and Cassandra Clare. She has developed a wide audience through her popular blog, mistful.livejournal.com, where she writes movie parodies, book reviews and some stories.
Find Sarah:
Website | Twitter | Goodreads | Tumblr
Wednesday, October 15, 2014
Review: Unmade by Sarah Rees Brennan
Author: Sarah Rees Brennan
Series: The Lynburn Legacy, book #3
Publisher: Random House BFYR
Publication Date: September 23, 2014
Source: purchased
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
I don't think I'll ever love Untold or Unmade as much as I did Unspoken, especially since I adored that original cover design on the hardcover and have never really come to terms with the redesign. But Unmade was a very fitting end for our friends in Sorry-in-the-Vale, and I'm sad to be saying goodbye to them.
I think I've mentioned a time or two how difficult it is to review a series finale without spoiling anything in the previous books, so this won't be my typical review. I will say that I wish I'd re-read the first two books in preparation for this final installment, not because I was missing or had forgotten any vital information, but because the witty repartee and humorous interactions between the characters might have made this sad, sad goodbye more bearable.
Thank you, Sarah, above all for these characters. For Kami and Sulky and Blondie and Rusty and Jon Glass and every bit of comic relief you bestowed upon them. They deserved it. I'll never forget -- or forgive you for -- what you've put them through, those that were sacrificed, and those that live on so that those sacrifices were not in vain. Thank you for making sure that, while they suffered, they always had a good support system, that they had each other in the end and always. I know what you did and why you did it but it doesn't make the hurt any less.
I'll miss visiting Sorry-in-the-Vale, the Sorrier River, the Crying Pools, the tolling of the bells...everything that made this sleepy little village quaint and magical and real. I'll miss Kami's newspaper. I'll miss her bond with Jared and Ash but also the love she held for her own brothers. I'll miss Aurimere and the secrets it held. I'm going to miss it all.
This final book was perfectly plotted, well-paced, full of the dark, snarky humor I've come to expect from the author. Kami still rocks as a quirky, independent, take-charge protagonist and I wouldn't have wanted her to change for the world. She's going to remain one of my favorites, without a doubt. I can't say I'm 100% happy with how this story finishes but I have my reasons. And they'd be spoilery if I told you, so you'll just have to trust me that this is a worthy end. I'm happy but heartbroken, which is honestly how I always expect to feel at the end of a treasured trilogy, so in that respect, Unmade is pretty par for the course.
Thursday, October 10, 2013
Review: Untold by Sarah Rees Brennan
Author: Sarah Rees Brennan
Series: The Lynburn Legacy, book #2
Publisher: Random House BFYR
Publication Date: September 24, 2013
Source: purchased
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Oh, the angst! The denial! The sacrifices!
I loved Unspoken...in fact, I think I might have deemed it my favorite read of 2012. And I was crushed by that ending...hopelessly crushed, as many readers were. I didn't know if I'd ever be able to pick up the pieces of my wrecked heart after what Brennan did to it.
Many have despaired at the lack of action, the lack of forward movement in this sequel. And it's kind of true...this book doesn't really serve to advance the story much. There's a war brewing between those evil sorcerers led by Rob Lynburn and those who wish only to protect Sorry-in-the-Vale. But it's like the most mild-mannered war ever. There is a battle scene, and it does get kind of cray-cray, but other than that, the two opposing sides seem almost pleasant toward each other.
This book mostly revolves around Kami amassing an army of her own and preparing them for battle. She entrusts Rusty and Angela to teach them all self-defense moves. Rusty. *sigh* Kami helps mastermind a plan to aide the magical and non-magical folks alike in disposing of the evil sorcerers' powers, if only temporarily. She even brushes up on her history of the Lynburns and Sorry-in-the-Vale in hopes of discovering some secret that helped destroy the evil Lynburns all those years ago. Essentially, Kami really takes charge of the situation, but I don't think we'll really see any of this come to fruition until the next book, sadly.
But where others are claiming the story suffers from the banter and quips, I have to disagree. That was one of the more resplendent qualities in the first book, and I was glad to see that it survived, even if the link between Kami and Jared didn't. (And boy, do I miss that.) I guess I'm just really happy about it because after the ending in Unspoken, I was just so afraid that Jared would go missing, as love interests are wont to do in sequels. But he's there...or at least as present as Jared Lynburn ever is. And he's grumpy as all get out.
This book is just so damn angsty. I mean, I get it...after having been able to talk to each other without ever uttering a word, after knowing what each other was thinking for their entire lives, not being able to read each other is really taking a toll on Jared and Kami. And then there are just so many misunderstandings and things left unsaid and gah...So. Many. Feelings. And not just with Kami and Jared. There's the weirdness between Angela and Holly. And it seems like Rusty may have developed a little crush of his own. And Ash is steadfastly trying to get out of the friends zone, with little success. Poor guy can't catch a break, but I guess them's the breaks when you help your crazy dad with his blood sacrifices in order to gain more power.
Maybe this sequel didn't quite live up to my expectations, but those expectations
might have beenwere wholly unrealistic to begin with. I think this second installment did just what a sequel is supposed to do: built upon a world I've already come to love and entirely cemented my affection for the characters I've grown to care for so completely. And so, even though I was really disappointed with the cover redesign -- and I mean REALLY disappointed -- I still think this book was awesome. The series thus far is among my favorites, as is most of what Sarah Rees Brennan writes.(And I always picture Knives when I think of Kami. :D)
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
Teaser Tuesday #77: Untold by Sarah Rees Brennan
• 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!
Author: Sarah Rees Brennan
Series: The Lynburn Legacy, book #2
Publisher: Random House BFYR
Publication Date: September 24, 2013
Source: purchased
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
My teaser:
Well, at least it sounds like Jared is being his normal self. I was afraid things would continue to be painfully awkward between him and Kami for the duration of this book after the events that unfolded in Unspoken. Speaking of, I am terribly unhappy with the cover change for this series. The other cover was just...so unique. This new design is woefully unimaginative.
What are you teasing this week? Share it in the comments or leave a link so I can visit!
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Waiting on Wednesday: Untold by Sarah Rees Brennan & Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.
This week's WoW selection is...
Author: Sarah Rees Brennan
Series: The Lynburn Legacy, book #2
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: September 24, 2013
It’s time to choose sides… On the surface, Sorry-in-the-Vale is a sleepy English town. But Kami Glass knows the truth. Sorry-in-the-Vale is full of magic. In the old days, the Lynburn family ruled with fear, terrifying the people into submission in order to kill for blood and power. Now the Lynburns are back, and Rob Lynburn is gathering sorcerers so that the town can return to the old ways.
But Rob and his followers aren’t the only sorcerers in town. A decision must be made: pay the blood sacrifice, or fight. For Kami, this means more than just choosing between good and evil. With her link to Jared Lynburn severed, she’s now free to love anyone she chooses. But who should that be?’
Why Jen's waiting: I think Unspoken was probably my favorite book last year. There were lots I loved, but that one, it was made of pure awesome. And after that ending, GAAAHH! I need this sequel now.
But, can I have it with a cover to match the first book? Pretty please? This one's okay, but I really liked how different and unique the cover for Unspoken was and was hoping for more of the same with the rest of the series, especially since the "covers" for the prequel stories even match. :(
Author: Rainbow Rowell
Series: n/a
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Publication Date: September 10, 2013
Cath is a Simon Snow fan.
Okay, the whole world is a Simon Snow fan . . .
But for Cath, being a fan is her life — and she’s really good at it. She and her twin sister, Wren, ensconced themselves in the Simon Snow series when they were just kids; it’s what got them through their mother leaving.
Reading. Rereading. Hanging out in Simon Snow forums, writing Simon Snow fan fiction, dressing up like the characters for every movie premiere.
Cath’s sister has mostly grown away from fandom, but Cath can’t let go. She doesn’t want to.
Now that they’re going to college, Wren has told Cath she doesn’t want to be roommates. Cath is on her own, completely outside of her comfort zone. She’s got a surly roommate with a charming, always-around boyfriend, a fiction-writing professor who thinks fan fiction is the end of the civilized world, a handsome classmate who only wants to talk about words . . . And she can’t stop worrying about her dad, who’s loving and fragile and has never really been alone.
For Cath, the question is: Can she do this? Can she make it without Wren holding her hand? Is she ready to start living her own life? Writing her own stories?
Or will she just go on living inside somebody else’s fiction?
Why Mendy's waiting: Yay, a sister story! Sort of. :) This sounds fun, and Jen liked Eleanor & Park, so I think I'd like to give this author a try myself.
What are you waiting on this week? Feel free to share it in the comments or leave a link so we can stop by!
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Judging a Book By Its Cover #4: A Kid's Perspective on Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan
Okay, so I totally stole this idea from Sara at Forever 17 Books, who got the idea from an article on Babble called Judging a Book by Its Cover: A 6-year-old Guesses What Classic Novels Are All About. I just discovered her lovely segment, and I immediately
requestedforced my own four-year-old daughter Katie to provide me with some of her own cover art artwork and then asked her what she thought the book was about.This week, Katie picked one of my favorite 2012 reads to discuss and recreate:
Man, is my kid smart or what? :P There is a gate involved, yes, but it's about so much more than that. If you'd like, you can check out my review, where I gush and try to refrain from fan-girling this book, unsuccessfully.
We're taking suggestions for next week's post, if you're interested. We tend to, ahem, disagree on which cover she'll do each week. (I cannot imagine how bad things are gonna get when she's a teenager. *sigh*)
FYI: She asked me to trace over the "lellow" letters because she didn't make them dark enough. In case you thought I helped or something. =)
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Stuck in a Good Book Giveaway Hop
The Stuck in a Good Book Giveaway Hop is our opportunity to share a book (or books) that just wouldn't let us go, that kept our fingers turning the pages long into the night. And you know I will take any and every opportunity to share this particular book with you guys:
Author: Sarah Rees Brennan
Series: Book 1 in The Lynburn Legacy series
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: September 11, 2012
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
But all that changes when the Lynburns return.
The Lynburn family has owned the spectacular and sinister manor that overlooks Sorry-in-the-Vale for centuries. The mysterious twin sisters who abandoned their ancestral home a generation ago are back, along with their teenage sons, Jared and Ash, one of whom is eerily familiar to Kami. Kami is not one to shy away from the unknown—in fact, she’s determined to find answers for all the questions Sorry-in-the-Vale is suddenly posing. Who is responsible for the bloody deeds in the depths of the woods? What is her own mother hiding? And now that her imaginary friend has become a real boy, does she still love him? Does she hate him? Can she trust him?
I absolutely adored this novel! I don't think I've ever read anything quite like it. If you like mystery, witty banter, and Veronica Mars, this book was written for you. Seriously, everyone should experience the brilliance that is Sarah Rees Brennan. Seriously. Don't believe me? Check out my review or one of the short prequel stories: The Spring Before I Met You (from Jared's POV) or The Summer Before I Met You (from Kami's POV). And then do yourself a favor and enter to win your very own copy of this fabulous book!
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starryeyedjen
- I work with numbers by day, and I'm a mommy and avid reader by night. I'm a self-proclaimed Spreadsheet Queen, and I'll read anything you put in front of me. I seriously love all the books! And I adore audiobooks, too!
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