Reading Level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 336 pages
Publisher: Walker Childrens; 1 edition (June 5, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0802723705
ISBN-13: 978-0802723703
Series: (I think, yes)
Source: ARC provided by publisher
Cover: I actually really like this cover. First off, I'm really happy to see an interracial couple of the cover of a novel and I love their pose. I think it looks intimate without being uncomfortable. The background is gloomy which doesn't really fit with the story but does cause interest. I'm liking it!
First Sentence: "It's happening again."
Mini-Review: A light paranormal read that might not statisfy the hardcore paranormal fan.
Summary:
When a visit to the Tower of London triggers an overwhelmingly real vision of a beheading that occurred centuries before, Cole Ryan fears she is losing her mind. A mysterious boy, Griffon Hall, comes to her aid, but the intensity of their immediate connection seems to open the floodgate of memories even wider.
As their feelings grow, Griffon reveals their common bond as members of the Akhet—an elite group of people who can remember past lives and use their collected wisdom for the good of the world. But not all Akhet are altruistic, and a rogue is after Cole to avenge their shared past. Now in extreme danger, Cole must piece together clues from many lifetimes. What she finds could ruin her chance at a future with Griffon, but risking his love may be the only way to save them both.
Full of danger, romance, and intrigue, Transcendence breathes new life into a perpetually fascinating question: What would you do with another life to live?
Review:
Transcendence couples an interesting concept with great characters. It is riddled with good action and writing and has a few twists and turns to keep the reader on the their toes. Unfortunately, it just doesn't feel that original so while it is a really good story, I'm not sure it's right for people who read a lot of paranormal romance.
I was originally intrigued by this concept as much as the exotic location. The fact of the matter is, you don't find a lot of paranormal romances set in different countries so the London thing really appealed to me. I was definitely bummed that we were out of London so quickly. It only starts there in London for the first 50 pages and the rest are in the states. This wasn't horrible but it was definitely a letdown for me.
However, the concept provided just as interesting as I thought it might be. The idea of people remembering their own pasts was really cool and I liked beginning to understand about the Akhet. Cole, the main character in the book, plays cello expertly and I found it really fascinating that she is a child prodigy because she played cello in a past life. I was also pleased with her reaction. If I'd found out that I was only good at something because I'd learned it in a past life, I'd feel like my ability was cheapened a little and I was really pleased to see Cole struggle through some of the same things. I'm definitely interested in learning more about the Akhet society and their mission.
The two main characters Cole and Griffon were decent enough. I liked that they both had things they were passionate about. In far too many stories, it seems like the only thing the guy is passionate about is keeping the girl safe so it's cool to see a guy with hobbies. Griffon and Cole's chemistry was pretty good. I was also super glad to see an interracial couple portrayed with any kind of stigma about race. The only thing that bothered me was a lot of their dialogue and things they discussed felt straight out of another paranormal novel. The whole "no we can't be together" and "this is what you are" just sort of harkened all the other things I've read so many other times before that. Luckily, by the second half of the book, it took a different turn which made things a bit better for me. The other thing that bothered me slightly was how angry Cole got at Griffon without letting him explain. Now, this isn't Transcendence's fault. I get annoyed at this in most books and I just happened to really notice and get annoyed with it here.
One thing I really did appreciate was how close knit Cole's family was even though her parents were divorced. They all seemed to get along well enough and Cole and Kat acted liked sisters. I really liked their relationship.
Transcendence does have its high notes. It delivers on a unique plot, has plenty of action and characters that are passionate about something besides just each other. I'm just not sure it's original enough for people that read a lot of paranormal. If you're looking for something light to read then I'd say go for this one!
Transcendence couples an interesting concept with great characters. It is riddled with good action and writing and has a few twists and turns to keep the reader on the their toes. Unfortunately, it just doesn't feel that original so while it is a really good story, I'm not sure it's right for people who read a lot of paranormal romance.
I was originally intrigued by this concept as much as the exotic location. The fact of the matter is, you don't find a lot of paranormal romances set in different countries so the London thing really appealed to me. I was definitely bummed that we were out of London so quickly. It only starts there in London for the first 50 pages and the rest are in the states. This wasn't horrible but it was definitely a letdown for me.
However, the concept provided just as interesting as I thought it might be. The idea of people remembering their own pasts was really cool and I liked beginning to understand about the Akhet. Cole, the main character in the book, plays cello expertly and I found it really fascinating that she is a child prodigy because she played cello in a past life. I was also pleased with her reaction. If I'd found out that I was only good at something because I'd learned it in a past life, I'd feel like my ability was cheapened a little and I was really pleased to see Cole struggle through some of the same things. I'm definitely interested in learning more about the Akhet society and their mission.
The two main characters Cole and Griffon were decent enough. I liked that they both had things they were passionate about. In far too many stories, it seems like the only thing the guy is passionate about is keeping the girl safe so it's cool to see a guy with hobbies. Griffon and Cole's chemistry was pretty good. I was also super glad to see an interracial couple portrayed with any kind of stigma about race. The only thing that bothered me was a lot of their dialogue and things they discussed felt straight out of another paranormal novel. The whole "no we can't be together" and "this is what you are" just sort of harkened all the other things I've read so many other times before that. Luckily, by the second half of the book, it took a different turn which made things a bit better for me. The other thing that bothered me slightly was how angry Cole got at Griffon without letting him explain. Now, this isn't Transcendence's fault. I get annoyed at this in most books and I just happened to really notice and get annoyed with it here.
One thing I really did appreciate was how close knit Cole's family was even though her parents were divorced. They all seemed to get along well enough and Cole and Kat acted liked sisters. I really liked their relationship.
Transcendence does have its high notes. It delivers on a unique plot, has plenty of action and characters that are passionate about something besides just each other. I'm just not sure it's original enough for people that read a lot of paranormal. If you're looking for something light to read then I'd say go for this one!
Rating:
Favorite Lines:
It smells musty in the low-ceilinged room, as if centuries of desperation have worked their way into the walls.
--Pg. 16 of an ARC of "Transcendence" by C.J. Omololu
The feeling of transcendence I get when a piece is going well, the combination of contentment and exhilaration that makes it seem like I'm completely outside myself, is impossible to explain without sounding like a crazy person.
--Pg. 37 of an ARC of "Transcendence" by C.J. Omololu
"If something is going to be between my knees doe so many hours every week, I figure it might as well be the sexist singer alive." (on naming the cello "Bono")
--Pg. 47 of an ARC of "Transcendence" by C.J. Omololu
"Even the word is meaningless. It's not about coincidence. It's about leaving yourself open to possibility."
--Pg. 93 of an ARC of "Transcendence" by C.J. Omololu
Sometimes rational thought can be a liability.
--Pg. 141 of an ARC of "Transcendence" by C.J. Omololu
If keeping your enemies close means inviting them to dinner on a Saturday night, then we're all safe.
--Pg. 227 of an ARC of "Transcendence" by C.J. Omololu
Awesome review. This one wasn't really my cup of tea either. I actually didn't finish it.
ReplyDeleteI was so excited about this one - it sounded like a great concept, but it sounds like the delivery was a bit too typical for paranormal romance and it fell flat in some places. That's disappointing! I'll still try it out, but maybe lower my expectations. Thanks Amber!
ReplyDelete