Review: The Alchemy of Forever by Avery Williams

The Alchemy of Forever

Author: Avery Williams

Publication Date: January 3rd, 2012

Publisher: Simon & Shuster Books For Young Readers

Genre: YA/Fantasy/Romance

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Synopsis:

Seraphina has been alive since the Middle Ages, when her boyfriend, Cyrus, managed to perfect a method of alchemy that lets them swap bodies with any human being. Sera ran away from Cyrus years ago, when she realized that what they were doing—taking the lives of innocent people—was wrong. Yet she doesn’t want to die, so she finds young people who are on the brink of death, and inhabits their bodies. Sera has just landed in the body of a girl named Kailey who was about to die in a car accident. For the first time, Sera falls in love with the life of the person she’s inhabiting. Sera also falls for the boy next door, Noah. And soon it’s clear the feelings are returned. But she can never kiss Noah, because for her to touch lips with a human would mean the human’s death. And she has even more to worry about: Cyrus is chasing her. If she stays in one place for long, she puts herself—and the people she’s grown to care for—in great danger. Will Sera have to give up the one thing that’s eluded her for centuries: true love?

My Thoughts: I found this book for 5$ at a book store  and after reading it I am really surprised it was being sold at such a low price. It's a relatively new release,just over a year old and it's definitely a really great read. Not that I am complaining obviously, I got a great book at a great price and as a book lover that is a wonderful thing, but I feel like it should have been worth more.

It is a pretty short read though, I read the whole thing in one sitting. It was the kind of book that had you turning the pages non stop. I had taken it off the shelf and to bed to read a couple chapters before I passed out. But I ended up not closing it again until I was done and it was way past bed time.

 This book absolutely keeps you intrigued and interested!  Seraphina has been alive for a very very long time but she has had to do terrible things to achieve this immortality. Sera was entranced by love and romance and the excitement of eternal life for a years, but the magic is definitely wearing off and the romance is hardening. Although she has made some great friends in her long course through life she has come to realize the depth of what she is doing, and what the man she has been with for so long is really like. But just as she makes the decision to move on and leave immortality behind, a fateful event changes everything and Sera finds herself in yet another body.

The story was fast paced, short for jam packed full of excitement and drama. I developed a very quick attachment to Sera and all of her humanity, of which she has a surprising amount of for someone who has been alive for so long. I really loved the idea of a person hopping from body to body eternally and I kept thinking to myself that if a prequel were ever made to this story that I would love it. I would love to read about the years between Sera becoming who she was and her coming to a realization that she was a monster of sorts. A girl can dream can't she?

Even still, it was a fantastic read and I would whole heartedly recommend it to any and all YA & Fantasy/Paranormal fans. It's definitely one you should add to your list. It won't take too much of your time to read and you'll be glad you did. I know I need to get my hands on the sequel because I can't wait to see what happens next with Sera!

Review: Unremembered by Jessica Brody

Unremembered
(Unremembered #1)

Author: Jessica Brody

Publication Date: March 5th 2013

Publisher: Farrar, Straus, & Giroux (BYR)

Genre: Science Fiction

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Synopsis:

The only thing worse than forgetting her past... is remembering it.

When Freedom Airlines flight 121 went down over the Pacific Ocean, no one ever expected to find survivors. Which is why the sixteen-year-old girl discovered floating among the wreckage—alive—is making headlines across the globe.

Even more strange is that her body is miraculously unharmed and she has no memories of boarding the plane. She has no memories of her life before the crash. She has no memories period. No one knows how she survived. No one knows why she wasn’t on the passenger manifest. And no one can explain why her DNA and fingerprints can’t be found in a single database in the world.

Crippled by a world she doesn’t know, plagued by abilities she doesn’t understand, and haunted by a looming threat she can’t remember, Seraphina struggles to piece together her forgotten past and discover who she really is. But with every clue only comes more questions. And she’s running out of time to answer them.

Her only hope is a strangely alluring boy who claims to know her from before the crash. Who claims they were in love. But can she really trust him? And will he be able to protect her from the people who have been making her forget?

My Thoughts: What would you do if you woke up in the middle of the ocean, surrounded by debris and bodies and no memory? Yeah, I don't know what I would do either. I would probably require quite a bit of therapy or something. Then if nobody comes to claim you it's even worse. Not having anyone who knows you when you can't remember anything is awful. Sera feels this way. She doesn't even know that her name is Sera. She feels unwanted and confused and just wants to know who she is.

Jessica Brody writes a pretty awesome story that I was pretty much incapable of putting down. It took only a few hours to read, so it a quick read and keeps you turning page after page. I wanted to know who or what Seraphina was. She should have been dead if she was on the plane that crashed, but she wasn't even hurt. Is she an alien or what? She thought she was in 1609. But isn't. she doesn't have any memories of her life at all. Then a guy shows up who says he knows her, but she doesn't believe him. Though, she might have no choice but to.

Unremembered is fairly fast paced. The whole story takes place in less than a week. People are looking for Sera and she keeps seeing the same guy, over and over. She is a celebrity, even though she doesn't want to be and is constantly harassed by the press and anyone who recognizes her. Considering everything she goes through, Sera is pretty awesome. She's finding out that she has weird abilities and only has a few freak outs. I couldn't help but feel bad for her, since she was all alone.

Zen, is the mystery guy that keeps showing up. I liked him since he seemed to be one of the few characters that was really trying to help Sera. He was just a normalish guy too, who couldn't believe someone like her would give him the time of day. We need more normal guys in YA, just like we need more normal girls. I say he's normalish because there is something that doesn't make him completely normal. But he's close enough. He's a nice guy who will do anything for the girl he loves.

Overall, Unremembered was a great read that I really enjoyed. It's a sci fi in a contemporary setting that is well written. I would definitely recommend this one.

Review: Seraphina by Rachel Hartman

Seraphina
(Seraphina #1)

Author: Rachel Hartman

Publication Date: July 10th, 2012

Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers

Genre: Fantasy

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Synopsis:

Four decades of peace have done little to ease the mistrust between humans and dragons in the kingdom of Goredd. Folding themselves into human shape, dragons attend court as ambassadors, and lend their rational, mathematical minds to universities as scholars and teachers. As the treaty's anniversary draws near, however, tensions are high.

Seraphina Dombegh has reason to fear both sides. An unusually gifted musician, she joins the court just as a member of the royal family is murdered—in suspiciously draconian fashion. Seraphina is drawn into the investigation, partnering with the captain of the Queen's Guard, the dangerously perceptive Prince Lucian Kiggs. While they begin to uncover hints of a sinister plot to destroy the peace, Seraphina struggles to protect her own secret, the secret behind her musical gift, one so terrible that its discovery could mean her very life.

My Thoughts: I've heard a lot of great things about Seraphina, so I decided that I needed to give it a try. Am I ever glad I did! I haven't really had much of a chance lately to read some regular old fantasy, but after reading Seraphina, I've realized how much I've missed it.

Seraphina revolves around the upcoming anniversary of the treaty of peace between humans and dragons. All of a sudden the Prince has been murdered and it looks suspiciously like a dragon is the culprit. The protagonist of the story is Seraphina, a musician who works at court. She has a secret, she's half dragon, half human and nobody knows it, and she intends to keep it that way. She tries to blend in and be a nobody, but she still gains the friendship of the youngest Princess and her fiance, Prince Lucian Kiggs. Seraphina has so many secrets and is finding it hard to keep them all contained. She hides her scaly arm and waist beneath clothing, but how can she hide it forever. How can she keep  lying to someone she loves.

Seraphina is a very strong character, she has to be. If she lets anything slip, she could be killed for the abomination she is. She is adjusting to life at court and just trying to blend in, but her extraordinary musical gifts won't allow her to. She struggles to stay in the shadows, but when she uncovers a plot through her maternal memories, she has to help. The peace needs to be maintained and she might be the only one who can help figure out who is behind it. She struggles with her own emotions, knowing she's a monster and that no one will ever be with her. I felt so bad for her, always hiding herself and not letting herself feel any emotion. She is a great heroine and is incredibly brave. She puts everyone else before herself and I admire her for it.

I really enjoyed reading Rachel Hartman's debut into YA. She has done a wonderful job creating a world of fantasy that the reader only wants more of. I know I will be eagerly awaiting the next book in the series. There was only one thing that bothered me, which is why I'm giving this one 4 owls. I know there are a lot of books that just throw you into the story, but for this one I found the beginning just a bit confusing and it took me a little bit to figure out what was going on. That might be my fault though for not reading the synopsis very well. I sort of just glanced at it. Once I managed to figure everything out, I couldn't put the book down and lost myself in the wonderful writing. This is definitely a debut you should read if you enjoy fantasy, or are even looking to try the genre. Rachel Hartman will be an author to watch out for in the future!

Thank you NetGalley and Doubleday Canada for the review copy!