HI guys!
Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.
Today, we're joining a Pump Up Your Book blog tour already in progress for a Young Adult title that's a perfect fit for the season. It takes the paranormal aspect many have come to love and rachets it up to about 300%...no lie. The amount of friends, fiends, and foes running around here is enough to make Sunnydale look like a children's playground. So prepare yourself as we embark on a journey like no other between the pages of today's book of choice is...
Reanimator Series, Book 1
by
9780692498729
About the book...
17 year old Ember Denning has made an art of isolating herself. She prefers the dead. She spends her days skipping school in old cemeteries and her nights hiding from her alcoholic father at the funeral home where she works. When her own father dies, Ember learns her whole life is a lie. Standing in the cemetery that’s been her sanctuary, she’s threatened by the most beautiful boy she’s ever seen and rescued by two people who claim to be her family. They say she’s special, that she has a supernatural gift like them…they just don’t know exactly what it is.
They take her to a small Florida town, where Ember’s life takes a turn for the weird. She’s living with her reaper cousins, an orphaned werewolf pack, a faery and a human genius. Ember’s powers are growing stronger, morphing into something bigger than anything anybody anticipated. Ember has questions but nobody has answers. Nobody knows what she is. They only know her mysterious magical gift is trying to kill them and that beautiful dangerous boy from the cemetery may be the only thing standing between her and death.
As Ember’s talents are revealed so are the secrets her father hid and those in power who would seek to destroy her. What’s worse, saving Ember has put her cousins in danger and turned her friend’s lives upside down. Ember must learn to embrace her magic or risk losing the family she’s pieced together.
They take her to a small Florida town, where Ember’s life takes a turn for the weird. She’s living with her reaper cousins, an orphaned werewolf pack, a faery and a human genius. Ember’s powers are growing stronger, morphing into something bigger than anything anybody anticipated. Ember has questions but nobody has answers. Nobody knows what she is. They only know her mysterious magical gift is trying to kill them and that beautiful dangerous boy from the cemetery may be the only thing standing between her and death.
As Ember’s talents are revealed so are the secrets her father hid and those in power who would seek to destroy her. What’s worse, saving Ember has put her cousins in danger and turned her friend’s lives upside down. Ember must learn to embrace her magic or risk losing the family she’s pieced together.
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First off, let's talk about that cover. Eye catching and disturbing all that the same time. I couldn't help myself! Once I saw it, I knew I had to uncover its secrets. I mean, why the color choice? What's with the world being upside down? Who is that red head on the swing? Her outward appearance gives off innocence and yet something appears sinister just the same. So many questions, and that's before you even notice the curious title! Anyone else get the shivers from it? *raises hand* Now, let's dig into the elements...
Story wise, you can't shake a stick at all that is transpiring in this tale. We have those coming into powers they never knew existed. We have beings stalking others for unknown purposes that are going to a get a bit too close. We have a whole town that is missing its memories from twelve years ago...except the vague notion that SOMETHING bad happened and their loved ones perished. They all circle around Belle Haven, a town cloaked from the outside world and crammed full of paranormal beasties, that's about to become the boiling point for something years in the making. Can you imagine finding out that you've extended family...one a banshee, the other a reaper? Or how about that you were suppose to be dead TWELVE years ago and your very existence is turning the paranormal world upside down? Yeah...quite a bit to deal with and Ember is going to get hit with it all at once. Good thing she's made of stronger stock than she looks...stronger than your average human I'd say. Guess that explains why she's NOT actually one...
Character wise, there were so many to choose from, I'd be hard pressed to narrow it down to my favorites. Ember is an easy choice with her ever present heart guiding her way; it is what makes her human despite all outward signs to the contrary. Mace is certainly easy on the eyes and even though he's a soulless soul eater, I dare YOU to resist his ways. (*snicker....good luck with that!*) Tristan is a firecracker without a doubt (though there is one human in particular that brings her heart to a stand still), once her powers go active...buddy watch out! Kai a big talking, sassy, soft-hearted soul; perhaps the very reason for his reaper position in the family. Then there is Isa, Wren, Quinn (love that kid!), Donovan...need I go on? As you can see, a notepad is not a bad reading accessory with this book...and we've only delved into the better parts of the cast! We've yet to list the true baddies (though Mace's position is certainly debatable), but I'll let you discover them on your own.
This is not a light read in any sense of the word so be warned going into it because once you do, they'll be no pulling yourself back out until you turn the final page. How do I know? From experience. I literally read this over the course of one day and while I'm not a stranger to BIG books, this little pretty comes in at just over 500 pages. Yep. I told you it wasn't a lightweight. Do I feel any of it could have been cut to trim it down a bit? Not exactly, but I do think for those that gravitate towards quicker reads, may be slightly turned off by the prospect. If that description fits you, try to push it out of your mind because you'll be missing out on a great read. Heavy instance number two, the stories content. We're talking the HUGE cast of paranormal critters and what nots PLUS the story itself because while you may think that the discovery of Ember's power is the end of it, it's truly only the beginning. At times, it felt like I was trying to describe the beginnings of a really bad joke ... a werewolf, Grim, witch, banshee, and a reaper walk into a bar... but once I got the character tree straight in my head, I was set.
In conclusion, a great pick for the season as well as anytime you wish to indulge the Young Adult Paranormal fan in you. It's got a little something for everyone...danger, romance, unrequited love, magic, and the classic good vs evil...while still weaving a tale that encompasses them all. You'll fall under Ember's spell while trying to avoid the charms of Mace (*sigh*), verbally spar with Tristan while Quinn backs everyone up with hard won words of wisdom, even if he was but a teenager. The fates of everyone here are connected in ways they don't even begin to understand until the you-know-what hits the fan at book's end. Even then, there's so much we don't know you could fill a book with it....good thing there's more to come. ^-^ (*adds to wish list*)
Story wise, you can't shake a stick at all that is transpiring in this tale. We have those coming into powers they never knew existed. We have beings stalking others for unknown purposes that are going to a get a bit too close. We have a whole town that is missing its memories from twelve years ago...except the vague notion that SOMETHING bad happened and their loved ones perished. They all circle around Belle Haven, a town cloaked from the outside world and crammed full of paranormal beasties, that's about to become the boiling point for something years in the making. Can you imagine finding out that you've extended family...one a banshee, the other a reaper? Or how about that you were suppose to be dead TWELVE years ago and your very existence is turning the paranormal world upside down? Yeah...quite a bit to deal with and Ember is going to get hit with it all at once. Good thing she's made of stronger stock than she looks...stronger than your average human I'd say. Guess that explains why she's NOT actually one...
Character wise, there were so many to choose from, I'd be hard pressed to narrow it down to my favorites. Ember is an easy choice with her ever present heart guiding her way; it is what makes her human despite all outward signs to the contrary. Mace is certainly easy on the eyes and even though he's a soulless soul eater, I dare YOU to resist his ways. (*snicker....good luck with that!*) Tristan is a firecracker without a doubt (though there is one human in particular that brings her heart to a stand still), once her powers go active...buddy watch out! Kai a big talking, sassy, soft-hearted soul; perhaps the very reason for his reaper position in the family. Then there is Isa, Wren, Quinn (love that kid!), Donovan...need I go on? As you can see, a notepad is not a bad reading accessory with this book...and we've only delved into the better parts of the cast! We've yet to list the true baddies (though Mace's position is certainly debatable), but I'll let you discover them on your own.
This is not a light read in any sense of the word so be warned going into it because once you do, they'll be no pulling yourself back out until you turn the final page. How do I know? From experience. I literally read this over the course of one day and while I'm not a stranger to BIG books, this little pretty comes in at just over 500 pages. Yep. I told you it wasn't a lightweight. Do I feel any of it could have been cut to trim it down a bit? Not exactly, but I do think for those that gravitate towards quicker reads, may be slightly turned off by the prospect. If that description fits you, try to push it out of your mind because you'll be missing out on a great read. Heavy instance number two, the stories content. We're talking the HUGE cast of paranormal critters and what nots PLUS the story itself because while you may think that the discovery of Ember's power is the end of it, it's truly only the beginning. At times, it felt like I was trying to describe the beginnings of a really bad joke ... a werewolf, Grim, witch, banshee, and a reaper walk into a bar... but once I got the character tree straight in my head, I was set.
In conclusion, a great pick for the season as well as anytime you wish to indulge the Young Adult Paranormal fan in you. It's got a little something for everyone...danger, romance, unrequited love, magic, and the classic good vs evil...while still weaving a tale that encompasses them all. You'll fall under Ember's spell while trying to avoid the charms of Mace (*sigh*), verbally spar with Tristan while Quinn backs everyone up with hard won words of wisdom, even if he was but a teenager. The fates of everyone here are connected in ways they don't even begin to understand until the you-know-what hits the fan at book's end. Even then, there's so much we don't know you could fill a book with it....good thing there's more to come. ^-^ (*adds to wish list*)
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About the author...
Martina McAtee lives in Jupiter, Florida with her teenage daughter, her best friend, two
attack Chihuahua’s and two shady looking cats. By day she is a registered nurse but by
night she writes young adult books about reapers, zombies, werewolves and other
supernatural creatures. When she isn’t working, teaching or writing she's reading or
watching shows that involve reapers, zombies, werewolves and other supernatural
creatures. This is her debut novel ...
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Special thanks to Dorothy at Pump Up Your Book for the review copy as well as the chance to bring this tour to you. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the author, or those promotions on the horizon, feel free to click through the links provided above. Be sure to check out the other stops along THIS TOUR and stay tuned for book 2 in the series entitled, His Soul to Take, coming in 2016.
Before you go, don't forget to enter for your chance to win this fun prize pack including a sugar skull coffee mug with Day of the Dead tea and sugar skull shaped sugar cubes, courtesy of the author herself! Just fill out the Rafflecopter and you're in it to win it.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Before you go, don't forget to enter for your chance to win this fun prize pack including a sugar skull coffee mug with Day of the Dead tea and sugar skull shaped sugar cubes, courtesy of the author herself! Just fill out the Rafflecopter and you're in it to win it.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Until next time...happy reading!
Definitely a title that will capture the attention.
ReplyDeleteThis is one of those books that I read about on a blog discussing whether or not some of the themes in YA novels had become too 'grown-up'.
Certainly not a book that would have been aimed at this market when I was a girl but then again the concept of books for young adults didn't exist then. Not that this stopped many of us who as 'young adults' read such authors as Stephen King whom I'm sure many adults would not have found suitable reading for such young minds.
Anyway, as always an insightful review, thank you.
I completely agree Tracy. I myself was reading Patricia Cornwell, James Patterson, and John Sanford in my mid to late teens so I get the "now" aspect too. As for me, while the paranormal aspects and themes are on the darker side, I really don't see it being "too old" for the intended audience. Even the one - on - one type moments are kept sensual instead of crossing that line.
DeleteI completely agree Tracy. I myself was reading Patricia Cornwell, James Patterson, and John Sanford in my mid to late teens so I get the "now" aspect too. As for me, while the paranormal aspects and themes are on the darker side, I really don't see it being "too old" for the intended audience. Even the one - on - one type moments are kept sensual instead of crossing that line.
DeleteThat is SUCH a cool cover. Beyond cool.
ReplyDeleteThe cover and title grabbed me right away. Definitely spooky! Such a cool giveaway too. :)
ReplyDelete~Jess