Review - Incarnate by Jodi Meadows

Title and Author: Incarnate by Jodi Meadows

Publisher: Katehrine Tegen

Publication Date: January 31st, 2012

Paperback/Hardcover: 384

Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal

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.

Review:

From the blurb I was sure I would like this book I just didn’t know I would end up liking it as much as I did! Incarnate is a wonderful, interesting and different story that kept me well entertained.

In this book everyone had been reincarnated hundreds of times and always keep their memories from every life. It had always been that way until Ana is born. She isn’t reincarnated; she’s a “nosoul” or “newsoul”. She’s living her first life and no one is quite sure what she is or what the fact she was born means.

After she turns 18 Ana decides to leave her horrible mother and find out more about herself. She soon finds herself under attack and is saved by a boy named Sam who just like everyone else has lived several other lives.

I was immediately entranced by Ana’s story and the world Jodi Meadows created in this book. A world that includes new and different creatures as well as great re-creations of some creatures we already know like dragons. The descriptions of the city of Heart with its imposing and mysterious temple were perfect and made me feel like I was there with Ana and Sam.

Ana’s a perfect main character and heroine. She’s very untrusting due to having been raised by an abusive and cold mother and that made her point of view very different and unique. She has her insecurities and is quick to doubt herself and her value but she’s also very intelligent and brave. Her love for music and eagerness to learn made me like her even more.

Sam was great as well. He’s the perfect match for Ana because while she’s impulsive and rushes into things he’s cautious and patient. He loves music as well, he’s sweet and caring and willing to help Ana discover who she is.

I really liked the way the relationship between Ana and Sam developed. It was nice reading about them slowly getting to know each other. Their mutual love for music brought them truly together and they were able to build a strong and true relationship.

Other characters like Stef were also entertaining to read about and they all brought something to the story.

Incarnate is very well written and the descriptions of the places and things Ana visits and sees are perfect.

All in all I really enjoyed Incarnate. It is a different, easy to read, well-written and entertaining story with a little something for everyone: adventure, love, a little bit of mystery…

I definitely recommend this book to any Young Adult and Paranormal fan.

Rating: Must Read  (5 Stars)

Goodreads 

Bookdepository

Jodi Meadows

This weekend posts are dedicated to Jodi Meadows, author of Incarnate. Stay tuned for a review, and interview and a giveaway!

For now let's get to know Jodi Meadows a little bit better:

Author's Profile:

"The official stuff:

Jodi Meadows lives and writes in the Shenandoah Valley, Virginia, with her husband, a Kippy*, and an alarming number of ferrets. She is a confessed book addict, and has wanted to be a writer ever since she decided against becoming an astronaut.

*A Kippy is a cat.

The unofficial stuff:

Like many writers, I’ve always wanted to do this professionally. You know, after I decided against being an astronaut.

Unlike many writers, I didn’t skip straight from picture books to adult novels. I have fond memories of going to Bookstop every month for the latest Baby-Sitters Club (which I kept reading, even after I realized they were never going to let the paranormal elements be real), and even fonder memories of hanging out in my middle school library. The librarians probably knew exactly what they were doing when they suggested book after book and discussed them with me at length. I, of course, had no clue they were turning me into a book addict, but it worked out for the best. Once I found the books where magic and other fantastic elements were real, I was hooked.

When I was twenty, I met a boy, moved 1,500 miles, and married him all within six months. I now realize that was crazy and dangerous, but it seemed natural at the time and, again, worked out for the best. Not only did we stay madly in love, he worked full time at a hard job so I could stay home to write books and, hopefully, one day get published.

The other crazy thing we did was fall in love with ferrets. They have their own bedroom.

My hobbies, aside from spending all my money on books and Kippy/ferret treats, revolve around yarn. I love crocheting, knitting, and spinning. In addition to several handspindles, I share my living room with a spinning wheel named Bob.

Every Sunday I blog about spinning and other yarn things here. Ferret pictures can be found here."

Jodi Meadows Books:

Title and Author: Incarnate

Publisher: Katherine Tegen

Publication Date: January 31st, 2012

Paperback/Hardcover: 384

Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal 

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.

You can find Jodi at:

Official Website

Facebook

Twitter

Review - Rae of Hope by W.J. May

Title and Author: Rae of Hope by W.J. May

Publisher: Mitchell Morris Publishing

Publication Date: September 5th, 2011

Paperback/Hardcover: 

Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal

Summary:

How hard do you have to shake a family tree to find out the truth of the past?

Fifteen-year-old Rae Kerrigan has never questioned her family’s history. That is until she accepted a scholarship to Guilder Boarding School in England. Guilder is a very unique, gifted school.

Rae has no idea what she is getting herself into or that her family’s past is going to come back and taunt her. She learns she is part of an unparalleled group of individuals who become marked with a unique tattoo (tatù) on their sixteenth birthday. The tatù enables them to have supernatural powers particular to the shape of their marking.
Both her parents were marked though Rae never knew, as they passed away when she was young and never told her. Learning about her family’s past, her evil father and sacrificial mother, Rae needs to decide if there is a ray of hope for her own life.

Review:

I received this book from the author in exchange of an honest review and Era of Hope is a very interesting story.

Even after 20 years, Rae can’t remember what started the fire that took the lives of her parents.  Now, after she is accepted into the Guilder Boarding School she hopes all her questions will finally be answered. She soon realizes that Guilder is not an ordinary boarding school. In fact, it is a school for those who have supernatural powers and gifts where everyone receives a tattoo after they turn 16.

She quickly discovers her parents had powers as well and the question of what exactly what gifts she inherited from them quickly arises.

I really enjoyed this book and was intrigued by the story. The story is exciting and includes a few good twists.

The characters in this book are very likeable and I found it very easy to relate to Rae. Even though she can be a little insecure at times, she’s very strong. Devon is great as well, very sweet and dreamy.

I thought Rae of Hope was a well-written book with a very interesting and gripping story. The characters are great and so are the plot and its twists.

I think any Young Adult Paranormal fan will definitely be able to enjoy this book.

Rating: Worth Your Time (4 Stars)

Goodreads 

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Go visit the other reviews and let people know what you think about them!

This will is weekly feature posted on Thursdays. :)

My Book Boyfriend

My Book Boyfriend is a weekly meme, hosted by Missie at The Unread Reader. It is a weekly meme where we talk about a literary crush including stats, a picture of what you imagine he looks like and some quotes from him that make you swoon.  If you are interested in participating please check out the My Book Boyfriend Introduction Page over at Missie's blog The Unread Reader.

This week my book boyfriend is:

Augustus from The Fault In Our Stars by John Green

Stats

Status: Augustus is recovering from osteosarcoma. He has a great, goofy smile. He becomes Hazel's friend and love interest.

Age: 17

Height: Tall

Eyes: Blue

Hair: Magohany

More info: Augustus is funny, sweet and romantic. He fears oblivion and wants his life to have meant something. He likes video games.

"Long and leanly muscular, he dwarfed the molded plastic elementary school chair he was sitting in. Mahogany hair, straight and short. He looked my age, maybe a year older, and he sat with his tailbone against the edge of the chair, his posture aggressively poor, one hand half in a pocket of dark jeans."

“May I see you again?" he asked. There was an endearing nervousness in his voice.
I smiled. "Sure."
"Tomorrow?" he asked.
"Patience, grasshopper," I counseled. "You don't want to seem overeager.
"Right, that's why I said tomorrow," he said. "I want to see you again tonight. But I'm willing to wait all night and much of tomorrow." I rolled my eyes. "I'm serious," he said.
"You don't even know me," I said. I grabbed the book from the center console. "How about I call you when I finish this?"
"But you don't even have my phone number," he said.
"I strongly suspect you wrote it in this book."
He broke out into that goofy smile. "And you say we don't know each other.”

“Oh, I wouldn't mind, Hazel Grace. It would be a privilege to have my heart broken by you.”

“I'm in love with you," he said quietly.
"Augustus," I said.
"I am," he said. He was staring at me, and I could see the corners of his eyes crinkling. "I'm in love with you, and I'm not in the business of denying myself the simple pleasure of saying true things. I'm in love with you, and I know that love is just a shout into the void, and that oblivion is inevitable, and that we're all doomed and that there will come a day when all our labor has been returned to dust, and I know the sun will swallow the only earth we'll ever have, and I am in love with you.”

Actor Max Irons

So, what do you think of Augustus? Isn't he just amazing?

Team Smackdown

The third smackdown of the week and the last one of round 2!

Team Cam  (Fallen Series) vs Team Damon (The Vampire Diaries)

Team Cam - Fallen Series by Lauren Kate

Info:

Name - Cam Briel

Fallen Angel

Looks - Pale, black hair and green eyes

"Cam is the antagonist of the story and Luce’s other romantic interest. He is also a fallen angel. Cam is tall, has a pale complexion, and has black hair and green eyes. He has a tattoo of a sunburst on the back of his neck. He continuously tries to charm Luce, going to great lengths to capture her attention on numerous occasions. He is antagonistic towards Daniel and Arriane throughout the novel."

Quotes:

“You don't really know either of us," Cam said, standing and stepping away, "but you're prepared to choose right now, huh?” 

"Cam’s wings were so bright they were almost blinding as they pulsed.
“Holy Hell,” Callie whispered, blinking.
“More or less,” Arriane said."

 “It was like the more deranged she felt inside, the more available Cam became. What if it was enough just to stand here in the arms of someone who cared about her, to let his simple affection steady her for a little while?”

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Damon is being defended by Pepca @ Beyond Strange New Words

Team Damon - Vampire Diaries Series

Name: Damon Salvatore

Species: vampire

Birthday: late fifteenth century

Birth place: Florence, Italy

Year turned: late fifteenth century

Turned by: Katherine Von Schwartzchild

Physical Stats

Height: not very tall, but not small either

Build: slim, but muscular

Hair: fine straight black hair

Eyes: pitch black

“…as if darkness itself had come to life […], remarkably good-looking […], a sculptor’s dream…” 

There is only one Damon. Dark. Handsome. Dangerous. Mysterious. With a dazzling smile. And his eyes, oh, those burning black eyes with stars inside which one could fall into.

He has his faults, too. He is menacing, arrogant and provocative; he mocks Stefan and makes his life miserable. But if you give him a chance, you see all of it is a façade behind which he is trying to hide how vulnerable he is. He pretends not to care, because he is afraid of being disappointed. However, he changes and grows, and reveals the wounded Damon behind the mask, the lonely Damon who only longs to be accepted and loved.

Damon always keeps his word. He is not a liar. He does not cover up for himself. Those kinds of things are beneath him; therefore, he tells the truth and takes responsibility for his actions. He has a sense of justice and redeems himself by trying to rectify the wrongs done even if they are not his fault.

Damon is a protector. He always looks after Stefan. He is loyal, he cares for his friends and helps them. He does not let anyone who hurts his loved ones get away with it. He risks everything for the people he cares about, including his health and life.

Damon is the one who understands Elena best. He sees past her appearance and notices her strength. He recognizes how different she feels from other people, how she is searching for something to be a part of, for somewhere to really belong. Damon pushes Elena to face the truth about herself, he makes her realize her potential and her desires, and he supports her at what she wants. He gives Elena credit for knowing her own mind, and he does not try to influence her decisions. He encourages her to make her own choices, and he respects them. Damon is always on Elena’s side.

He is gentle and loving. He is compassionate, and he hurts when his loved ones are in pain. He is also charming, graceful, courteous, and funny. He never ceases to surprise. In the end, Damon is simply just so … Damon. This is why I love him. This is why I am always on his team. 

Pepca @ Beyond Strange New Words

Quotes:

“But before she could grasp it, he did something extraordinary. He caught her reaching hand, not roughly but gently, and held it in his cool slender fingers. Then he turned her hand over, bent his dark head, and kissed her palm.” (The Awakening and The Struggle, Elena and Damon, p. 137)

“I can waken things inside you that have been sleeping all your life.” (The Awakening and The Struggle, Damon, p. 205-6)

“Damon’s voice was no louder than before. ‘Get away from my brother.’  Bonnie could feel it inside him, a swell of Power like a tsunami.  He continued, so softly that Bonnie had to strain to hear him, ‘Before I tear your heart out.’” (The Fury and Dark Reunion, Damon and Klaus, p. 385)

“‘I’m yours to do what you please with,’ he said in the same stunned voice. ‘You can order me to die right now. After all my clever talk, it turns out that I’m the monster.’ And then he wept.” (Nightfall, Damon and Elena, p. 401)

“He was so gentle, but almost fierce in his love for her. He had vowed not to kill, but he would kill to save her. She was his most precious thing in all the world...Any sacrifice would be worth it if she were safe and free. His life meant nothing without her, so he would gladly give it, laughing and kissing his hand to her with his last breath […] ‘I don’t belong anywhere’, Damon pointed out, suddenly sounding sad.  ‘You know I’ll always be with you.’” (Shadow Souls, p. 110-12)

“‘You forgot all about me. You were holding me, but you completely forgot my existence...’

‘If only,’ he thought bitterly. ‘You’re branded on my soul.’” (Midnight, Elena and Damon, p. 26)

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Now that you've read a little bit about each of the guys in today's Team Smackdown is time to vote for your favorite!  The Team that wins today will face another Team in the next round!

Which Team are you on?

Team Cam Team Damon

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