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
Monday, November 25, 2013
{Audiobook} Review: Blythewood by Carol Goodman
Author: Carol Goodman
Narrator: Leslie Bellair
Series: Blythewood, book #1
Length: 12 hrs 8 mins
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Publication Date: October 8, 2013
Source: purchased
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible
I haven't had the best of luck with boarding school novels lately. So many of them are flat and contain the same old, same old: magic, mystery, and secrets, and they're all very blasé about it. So, it was with some trepidation that I began this audiobook, despite knowing that several of my friends had already loved the story.
I don't know if it's the combination of a truly worthy protagonist and a brilliant audiobook narrator, but I can safely say that I am back on the boarding school bandwagon. I loved Leslie Bellair's narration in Tarnish, so I was fairly certain she'd do Blythewood justice. Bellair beautifully portrayed Ava as a girl who's not quite sure of her sanity and also not certain of her place in the world. I'd say she far-exceeded my expectations when it comes to the narration.
My first instinct is to compare this story to Harry Potter because there are quite a few similarities, but that would be doing this book a great injustice because as far as writing and story go, the two books couldn't be more different. Historical fiction and fantasy combine in this story to create a magical world shrouded in mystery. Blythewood is magical realism at its best, as far as I'm concerned, and setting the story in the early 20th century made it that much more enjoyable for me, especially when other events from history coincide and intertwine with the story. This book is far from light, and including real-life tragic events from history gave the book a more realistic feel, making it all the more engaging.
These events also play an important role in Ava's life...Ava who's already suffered a tragic loss of her own. It's all a bit much and has Ava questioning her sanity, but she's a survivor. She's not perfect and she doesn't have the ability to magic herself out of a jam; she's just a girl who's trying to make the best out of a bad situation. And along the way, she makes some friends, both among her peers at school and among her teachers and their acquaintances, but she also makes a truly menacing enemy, one who may know Ava's story better than she does.
Another aspect of this story that I found particularly intriguing was the balance between light and dark, between good and evil. I think when it comes to magic in a story, it's always important to highlight the differences but also to stress that there are gray areas, even if the opinion is not popular. The Darklings, the fae, and the other inhabitants of the Blythe Wood are just such a gray area, and I can't wait to delve further into that magic in future installments.
I also need more of the romance from the next book. The relationship that develops in Blythewood is forbidden in nature and very slow-burning, so much so that I wondered if anything would even become of it in this book. Especially when the author seemed to be pushing another love interest into the mix. Though nothing develops with that young man, there are indications that his presence is important and that even if Ava doesn't have feelings for him, he clearly does for her. I'd buy into that romantic aspect more if I had been shown his feelings rather than having been told about them by another character. Either way, it's going to be interesting to see how this all develops, especially after certain revelations at the end of this book. Ava is going to have to overcome some prejudices and come to terms with who she really is before anything can really happen, though.
Honestly, I don't think any review I write can effectively convey the awesomeness of this story. It's slow-going at first but well worth the build-up. It's such a unique take on faerie lore intermixed with that of angels and demons and everything in between. I was disappointed to learn that it wasn't a stand-alone as I'd originally thought, but I'm also elated to know that there's more of this story to be told. I haven't had my fill of this magical world yet, and I am ever so intrigued by those Darklings and whatever else lurks in the shadows of the Blythe Wood.
Saturday, November 23, 2013
In My Mailbox #109
I didn't get a whole lot of reading done last weekend, but I'm making up for it now :) Here's what I scored this week:
For Review:
Yes, I requested this. Yes, I am aware that it is just the lyrics to the song with some really awesome illustrations. But I wanted to review it before I purchase it for my daughter. Especially knowing that once I do, I'll have to read it to her at bedtime for many, many nights. =) We've already read it and watched the video about ten times since I got this. :D
Thank you, Megan Miranda, ATW ARC Tours & Tor/Forge!!!
Vengeance by Megan Miranda - OMG!!!!!!!! I received a signed copy from the author! I will be reading this very, very soon.
Plus One by Elizabeth Fama - I've already finished this one, and it. Is. Phenomenal. A must-read!
Revelations by J.A. Souders - I received a finished copy from the publisher, but I haven't even read the first book -- which I also own -- so I don't know when I'll get to this.
Audiobooks:
The Fiery Heart by Richelle Mead - Already listened and loved it. Dying for the next book now.
So, that's my haul. How about you? What did you get this week?
Reviews:
Promotional/Discussion Posts: Exclusive bonus scene from Fire & Flood by Victoria Scott
Jen's Currently Reading/Listening To:
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Friday, November 22, 2013
{Promo} Fire & Flood by Victoria Scott - Exclusive Bonus Scene + Giveaway
Author: Victoria Scott
Series: Fire & Flood, book #1
Publisher: Scholastic
Publication Date: February 25, 2014
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Are you excited yet? ;0)
{Kids} Review: What Does the Fox Say by Ylvis & Svein Nyhus
Author: Ylvis
Illustrator: Svein Nyhus
Series: n/a
Publisher: Simon & Schuster BFYR
Publication Date: December 10, 2013
Source: from publisher via Edelweiss
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
By now, surely you've all seen the YouTube video that inspired this book. I was only directed toward it in the last month or so, but once I showed it to my daughter, it was played on a daily basis in my house. And the song is now stuck in my head forever as a result.
As with most YouTube sensations, it started out innocently enough. Says Bård Ylvisåker of THE FOX: "This song is made for a TV show and is supposed to entertain a few Norwegians for three minutes — and that's all. It was done just a few days ago and we recently had a screening in our office. About 10 people watched — nobody laughed." (From the duo's website.) So, it wasn't intentionally a children's song, but I know plenty of kids who love it, my own included.
I read this to my daughter last night, and she loved it, just as I expected she would. Actually, first, we played the video as we read along to the song, singing along with it. Then we went back to the beginning and read the words while we perused the illustrations. The review copy wasn't formatted perfectly, but it actually made it easier to hold the book so that she could see as I was reading it to her. In the hardcover format, I'm sure there will be no such issues. I can't wait for Katie to have a finished copy and experience the beautiful illustrations up close and in person.
I already have plans to purchase the hardcover for Katie for Christmas, as well as for all the nieces and nephews. I actually kind of want my own untarnished copy, too. It's the perfect addition to your child's book collection, or your own, if, like me, you have an affinity for collecting pretty books or books with pretty things between the covers.
Thursday, November 21, 2013
{Audiobook} Review: Altered by Gennifer Albin
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
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.
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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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