By Jodi Meadows
Genre YA fantasy
Pages 374
Recommended by Me
First sentence I wasn't reborn
Synopsis
Ana is unique, and it's not a good thing. In Range everyone has been reincarnated thousands of times, keeping the memories from all their previous lives. Not Ana. She's a newsoul, or as her mother calls her a nosoul. Leaving home and setting out into the world, Ana is determined to discover why she is the way she is but in a world as dangerous as Range, will she survive?
What it has going for it
K, I'm so confused. I kept reading horrible reviews for this one and I almost took it off my TBR list because of them but then the Kindle version popped up for cheap so I downloaded it and began reading on a whim. I gobbled this one up. I loved that it had this mixture of fantasy and dystopian feel to it but was neither. I loved the world too. It was beautiful but creepy and ominous and keeps you turning pages out of morbid fascination. Ana was a sympathetic, relatable character. The childhood she was forced to endure...oh my gosh, guys, I would have been a whimpering pile of mush. Not Ana. She comes through it remarkably well. That's not to say she didn't have some deep issues to sort through. I loved watching her grow throughout the book and I loved that despite those issues she was strong, determined and loyal. So, yeah, I'm a bit confused as to why people didn't like this one. I see that my Goodreads friends liked it so I can't even remember where I saw the bad reviews but they're out there...just don't listen to them.
What's lacking
Most books aren't perfect and this one wasn't either. It had a few things that bothered me. There was a lot of set up and questions that arose in this one so that you're left feeling a bit confused. Ana's mother was evil just for the sake of being evil...as far as I could see. I don't like when there's no reason behind things or characters. It comes off as lazy writing. I'm not entirely sure that we won't learn more in the next books, though, so I'm willing to wait and see. My other problem with the book is purely my own opinion so don't pay too much attention. Sam, the love interest, meh. Just didn't do it for me. I liked him well enough and his kindness and gentleness were perfect for Ana, but, I don't know. He just fell sort of flat. Almost makes me wish for a love triangle just so I have another option. Oh dear, I'm just never satisfied, am I?
Favorite moment
The dance between Ana and Sam. Very passionate and beautiful.
Yea or Nay?
Yeah, I'd highly recommend it. I'm not sure why people didn't like it.
That's great! I love when a book exceeds my expectations. I haven't read this one, but I have eyed it a few times.
ReplyDeleteIt's great when a book exceeds your expectations.
DeleteI love they way you review books. Your format is awesome! This sounds interesting. I've seen this around, but I haven't read a review for it yet!
ReplyDeleteYou think so? I was thinking of changing it up.
DeleteI've been wanting to read this one forever! Hmmmmm... I may have to make time for it. I hate when the love interest falls flat and you just have to accept that the MC likes him or her, while in your head you're thinking "Why do they even like each other?"
ReplyDeleteYeah this happens to me a lot. Ah well.
DeleteI've been meaning to read this one for ages and I'm SO glad you lied it more than most people did. While not without its problems, it still sounds rich and imaginative and pretty exciting.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad I gave it a shot. It really was great.
DeleteThis cover ROCKS!! And I am cracking up that the romance in this book made you wish for a love triangle! Glad you loved this one, I'll keep my eye out for it.
ReplyDeleteI really like the cover too. And it actually ties into the book! I was definitely wishing for a love triangle.
DeleteHa! Don't even say you wish for a love triangle! It might appear in the next book. I have been on the fence about this one. Not because of bad reviews or anything. The premise just didn't grab me. I think I'll have to try it now.
ReplyDeleteI hope you try it. I really wouldn't mind a love triangle out at least another love interest.
DeleteI don't know why but this book just does not appeal to me, but I'm so glad you liked it. I'm trying to think of the reviews I've seen of it and I vaguely remember some of them being bad, but I've also seen good ones. Sometimes I see bad reviews for books I've loved and I think those reviews are just more critical of books than I am. Not that there is anything wrong with that, I'm just not that critical, I rate based on entertainment :)
ReplyDeleteYeah, some books just don't appeal to me either.
DeleteI think Ana's mom wasn't evil for the sake of being evil - I think she just did not get that Ana had to learn everything. I swear we must have opposite taste in books because I did not like this one until the end. It was just a meh book for me mostly because I thought Sam was really boring.
ReplyDeleteWell, at least we agree about Sam's boringness. ;-)
DeleteI'm glad you liked this one. I haven't read it yet, but it was always on my TBR pile. I'll have to move it up the list.
ReplyDeleteI hour you can get to it soon.
DeleteWhimsical reading, I love it! I love it when I just sort of happen upon things I love. And, while I love the blogosphere, sometimes it can get in the way of that.
ReplyDeleteYes, it can influence us for the bad sometimes.
DeleteI had seen some negative reviews too, so when I read it, I was like HUH? I LOVED it. It had been on my wish list forever and I kept trying to win it so when I saw the hardcover for like $4 I grabbed it and was so glad I did. I figured the mother, besides just being a bitch in general, was so evil to Ana because she'd been stuck with the no soul...it was like a disgrace and an embarrassment - which doesn't make her behaviour ok, obviously, but to me it kind of made sense in the context of that world. I loved the interactions between Sam and Ana...and I actually thought he was pretty swoonworthy! So glad you liked this one. :-)
ReplyDeleteYay! Another lover of this one. Yeah, I saw why the mom was bitchy but for some reason it never felt like a real explanation. I'm glad you liked Sam. That makes the book that much more good.
ReplyDeleteIs this an either-you-love-it-or-you-hate-it kind of book? I have another book blogger friend who HATED it, so now I can't decide -- should I read it or not? Not that I actually know where my review copy is anyway ...
ReplyDeleteHmm, maybe it is. I can't decide what you'll think of it. I guess you'll have to read it to see what side of the line you fall on.
DeleteGreat review.. Must find it on an online bookstore..
ReplyDelete