Wednesday, January 9, 2013

I Read These: The 13th Reality: Book 4 and Crewel


I fell behind in the reviewing department last month, so today, we're doing a double review of two hotly anticipated reads, for me. Now that I think about it, they both have something in common that has something in common with a certain book I'm still finding a home for: manipulating reality! Alrighty - let's dive right into these, shall we?

The 13th Reality: Book 4: The Void of Mist and Thunder

Atticus Higginbottom—aka Tick—has known all along that when the battle for every reality is on the line, his role will be a crucial one. But he never could have imagined how this final challenge would go down. While Tick’s friends Paul, Sofia, and Sato work together with the Realitants to fight the newest and biggest threat to the very fabric of all that exists, Tick finds himself alone with the villains responsible for the damage: Mistress Jane and Reginald Chu. 

(From Goodreads)
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A few years ago, I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Dashner when the first book in this series was released, and I was hooked from the get-go. Then, because of his excellent Maze Runner series taking off, book 3 ended with the mother of all cliffhangers. I did one of those prolonged "NoOoOoOo"s, because it would be a long time before I learned how Tick would get out of his mess. The wait was worth it.

Never lacking in imagination, with a nail-biting pace from start to finish, the final book in this series is an ending that any loyal reader could ask for, and then some. What's most fun about this series is the approach given to the characters. They're not like other MG characters as of late, with backgrounds that, as different as they are, really came together here at the end, where they have to deal with a being bent on destroying reality completely. As for the ending ... my heck, I totally didn't see that coming! Kudos to James for taking my notions and mixing them all up like a Rubrics Cube. This series is offically a favorite and will hold a special spot on ye old bookshelf.

Missed the series? You can find them here, here, here, and here.

*     *     *
 
Crewel 

Sixteen-year-old Adelice Lewys has always been special. When her parents discover her gift—the ability to weave the very fabric of reality—they train her to hide it. For good reason, they don’t want her to become a Spinster — one of the elite, beautiful, and deadly women who determine what people eat, where they live, how many children they have, and even when they die.

Thrust into the opulent Western Coventry, Adelice will be tried, tested and tempted as she navigates the deadly politics at play behind its walls.  Now caught in a web of lies and forbidden romance, she must unravel the sinister truth behind her own unspeakable power.  Her world is hanging by a thread, and Adelice, alone, can decide to save it — or destroy it.
 

(From Goodreads)
*     *     *

When I first heard of this novel from author Gennifer Albin, I was scared. Not because of Gennifer, or that this was a scary book, but because of the premise that revolves around this book: sewing and weaving magic. Some of you know that my novel, WOVEN, also has a sewing and weaving magic system. My worst fear, since great minds think alike, was that Gennifer's take on the magic would mirror my own - would I have to rewrite it so no one could label me a copycat? Finally, I read it, and I'm happy to report that, as awesome as her take on the material is, it can't be any more different than mine.

Phew! We dodged a bullet there, people ...

Onto the review - it was quite the immersive read! It does follow the current trend of a female protagonist and first person present, in a futuristic, dystopian setting. I have noticed that some reviews drew comparisons to The Hunger Games for this book, mainly because the beginning chapters do follow a similar pattern of events, but I'm not going to hold that against the author, cause it works. Adelice was a fun character to read, who clearly has accepted her society, allowing her to grow and rebel the deeper down the weaving hole she went.

Things changed once Adelice got to the place where she would learn to become a Spinster, someone who can control the fabric of life, meaning they can control every part of someone's life, and even destroy it in an instant. Kind of a terrifying concept, if you think about it, and this government has Spinsters under their control. And with the assistance of a couple young studs ... you get the idea.

I totally recommend this book, and, as luck would have it, I had a bit of an issue with amazon when I ordered this and ended up with an extra copy - it's giveaway time! Say "Crewel Me!" in the comments within the next 24 hours and I'll randomly select a winner for a neat-o hardback copy. Sound good? Get ready to have your mind spun!

Find a copy here. I'll announce the winner with tomorrow's post.

If you're not sure, maybe this trailer can entice you further ...



I'm David, and I should get extra copies from Amazon more often!

26 comments:

  1. Cool you got to meet the author. Just not into middle grade or young adult books. Maybe if I had kids...

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  2. Very cool to meet the author, and both of those books (er, series and book) sound really good. I keep meaning to read something by Dashner . . .

    Crewel Me!

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  3. Hey David! I've read everything about Crewel I could get my hands on...except the book. So,

    Crewel Me!!

    It's been on my TBR list and is coming up quickly:)

    BTW, Woven sounds amazing and it's also on my
    can't-wait-to-read list for like months.

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  4. Crewel me! I love meeting authors. These are great recommendations, and I love the trailer.

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  5. I still haven't read any James Dashner *blushes* I'll have to make that a priority this year.

    Also Crewel me for sure. That book looks awesome!

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  6. Crewel me, too. :)
    I love the sewing, weaving elements (in both your ideas). Having done the non-magical versions, I definitely feel there is something in that creative power...

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  7. I read Crewel a few months ago thanks to my awesome local bookstore giving me an arc and I enjoyed it. I suppose there were some similarities with the beginning of The Hunger Games but the books were really quite different.

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  8. I'm in for your drawing.

    I've got the first three of the 13th Reality Books and haven't gotten to them yet. Is the series ended now? I don't want to get stuck on a cliffhanger hangover.

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  9. Crewel Me!!!

    That book sounds super good. I'm always afraid that I'll pick up and book and be like... crap. This is kinda like mine.

    Have yet to do that but... :)

    These books sound like great reads!

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  10. Crewel me, Mr. King. Nice reviews. :o)

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  11. The 13th Reality looks like somerthing I'd enjoy. I shall have to see if I can find it.

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  12. Crewel is a dystopian about sewing?!?! I do not know if I can dig this one. I've heard good things about it, but the premise is not super interesting to me I'm afraid. I'll probably read it anyway. I bet your book is way better, DPK! :)

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  13. So you ended up liking Crewel. Good to know. I'll add it to my TBR list!

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  14. The 13th Reality sounds like a neat series. I'm on the look-out for another good MG read, so maybe I'll give it a try.

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  15. Crewel has been on my to-read list for a couple of months now.

    If you are posting international, CREWEL ME!

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  16. I love book trailers! Thanks for sharing. Crewel sounds enticing.

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  17. I've been interested in both books for a while, and have been plowing through my reading list in the hopes of getting to these two soon.

    CREWEL ME, and I might just get to bump that one up to the top of my TBR list.

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  18. Cool that you got to meet James Dasher. I'll let someone else win Crewel since I read it and gave it away. I really enjoyed it too. Glad it was different than your story.

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  19. Crewel me, but this is a great offer. I remember turning my hand to some crewel work. I enjoy Dashner too.

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  20. okay...first things first. Crewel me. :)

    Both books sound really good. I was actually one of the few people in the world who didn't love The Maze Runner, but I'm definitely up for giving these a shot.

    And Crewel sounds really cool. Neat concept. Glad it wasn't handled the way you wrote yours!! I'm always afraid of the same thing. My concept (as far as I know) hasn't been done before. Fingers crossed that it stays that way.

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  21. The 4th book of 13 Reality is eagerly awaiting my time. It's on my shelf, being patient and now I'm ready to jump into it! Thanks for the review. Now I'm more excited than ever.

    And I like the review of CREWEL. I'll have to check that one out! :)

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  22. Dodging magical matching weaving plotline bullets - one of many talents. :)

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  23. I honestly don't think you'd ever be called a copycat. There are similar themes out there in the writing world if you just know where to look. But every writer's voice is original.

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  24. With so many votes now I know who to read. :)

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  25. i missed the deadline! crewel me!
    ah well
    just caught up!

    1) love your new schedule (and glad to know what the badges are for, hee!)
    2) the open secret, i like that! i will try it!
    3) glad you gave these reviews, always wanted an opinion of crewel, you made it appetizing!

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