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Reflections #2
Torn
The war between Alec Graves' pack and the other shape shifters in town can't last much longer. He can't win and he can't run away. The new girl at school shouldn't matter, but the more he gets to know Adri, the more mysterious she becomes. Is Adri an unfortunate victim or bait designed to draw Alec into a fatal misstep? If Alec guesses wrong he'll be pulled into a fight that will cost him everything. Publisher's Torn is a YA Paranormal Romance novel, and is one possible entry point into the books that make up the Reflections Universe. The Reflections Universe is a series of clean YA Paranormal books featuring vampires, shapeshifters, werewolves and more, which have been written so they can be safely enjoyed by both young adults and older readers alike. Torn is followed by Splintered, and is one of several YA shape shifter books available from Dean via Kindle. The Reflections Some stories are too full of teen paranormal romance and heart pounding action to fit into just one series! Dean Murray is the successful author of multiple clean young adult paranormal romance, urban fantasy, and epic fantasy books which collectively have more than 480,000 copies in circulation.
398 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2011
31 people are currently reading
670 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
March 31, 2017
DNF at 75%
Why is it so hard for me to find books that can lure me to continue reading it? I can't say this is the worst books I have ever read but this one isn't the best one too. I feel sick to push myself, to convince myself this book worth it. But it's not!
Brandon? Adriana? Alec? Rachel? I don't feel it, I mean the characters. We read because we somehow feel the same as the characters. But nah. Total disappointment.
I really want to get it finished but I can't! Sorry ;(
Why is it so hard for me to find books that can lure me to continue reading it? I can't say this is the worst books I have ever read but this one isn't the best one too. I feel sick to push myself, to convince myself this book worth it. But it's not!
Brandon? Adriana? Alec? Rachel? I don't feel it, I mean the characters. We read because we somehow feel the same as the characters. But nah. Total disappointment.
I really want to get it finished but I can't! Sorry ;(
February 23, 2012
Read my full review on Paromantasy
Torn is a YA paranormal romance centered around Alec (the alpha of a shapeshifter pack), and Adriana (the new girl in school). I enjoyed the characters and the fact that each member bought a new dimension to the Pack, but I have to admit that while I did like Torn - there was still much to be desired.
Alec is the Alpha of his pack after his father was killed. He may be young but he is smart, strong and determined to keep his family together. Adriana is the new girl in school who has a tough exterior, but has a good heart. Life has never been easy for her and now it is going to get that much harder when she finds herself in the middle of a shapeshifter war. after she unknowingly hangs out with Alec's rival pack leader Brandon. Adriana soon sees the evil lurking behind Brandon's facade and the one person who can save her is Alec. Alec is set on finding out everything about Adriana. He doesn't trust her and is set on uncovering her secrets. What he finds changes his life forever.
Alec finds himself falling in love with Adriana , but when she decides to stay away from Brandon tensions rise even more between the Packs. Soon Alec must choose: save the girl he has fallen for or keep his family and his Pack safe.
I loved the characters and found myself invested in their story. Adriana is delicate, yet strong and I rooted for her from the beginning. I just wanted to give Alec a hug. He is young and had to deal with so much. He is the Alpha and his pack relies on him, as well as his human sister and ailing mother. Add a treacherous rival group of shapeshifters trying to bring you down and that is a lot to deal with. The pack member each had their own personalities and I felt like they were old buddies by the end of the book.
Why do I not love it? At times, the book would get unbelievably slow. We would get sucked into the monotonous daily life of Alec and just when I was about to put the book down, the action would start again. This cycle was continuous throughout the book. With a bit more editing I think this book could be great.
Torn is a YA paranormal romance centered around Alec (the alpha of a shapeshifter pack), and Adriana (the new girl in school). I enjoyed the characters and the fact that each member bought a new dimension to the Pack, but I have to admit that while I did like Torn - there was still much to be desired.
Alec is the Alpha of his pack after his father was killed. He may be young but he is smart, strong and determined to keep his family together. Adriana is the new girl in school who has a tough exterior, but has a good heart. Life has never been easy for her and now it is going to get that much harder when she finds herself in the middle of a shapeshifter war. after she unknowingly hangs out with Alec's rival pack leader Brandon. Adriana soon sees the evil lurking behind Brandon's facade and the one person who can save her is Alec. Alec is set on finding out everything about Adriana. He doesn't trust her and is set on uncovering her secrets. What he finds changes his life forever.
Alec finds himself falling in love with Adriana , but when she decides to stay away from Brandon tensions rise even more between the Packs. Soon Alec must choose: save the girl he has fallen for or keep his family and his Pack safe.
I loved the characters and found myself invested in their story. Adriana is delicate, yet strong and I rooted for her from the beginning. I just wanted to give Alec a hug. He is young and had to deal with so much. He is the Alpha and his pack relies on him, as well as his human sister and ailing mother. Add a treacherous rival group of shapeshifters trying to bring you down and that is a lot to deal with. The pack member each had their own personalities and I felt like they were old buddies by the end of the book.
Why do I not love it? At times, the book would get unbelievably slow. We would get sucked into the monotonous daily life of Alec and just when I was about to put the book down, the action would start again. This cycle was continuous throughout the book. With a bit more editing I think this book could be great.
February 26, 2023
This story had so much promise. I really did enjoy parts of it. Books 1 and 2 are the same story from different points of view. I read about 50% of book 1 before I realized this and started reading book 2 along with it.
I had figured out most of the behind the story while reading the first half of book 1, but reading this one confirmed I was correct. But it was painful to read.
I really liked Alec. I had from book 1. But if I hadn't read book 1 first, I would have been lost. That's not what this book is meant to be. It got to the point where I read this book only to see a little more of the story. It didn't really stand alone.
No, I won't be reading more of this series. There are so many books and I can't waste my reading time on books that annoy me.
I had figured out most of the behind the story while reading the first half of book 1, but reading this one confirmed I was correct. But it was painful to read.
I really liked Alec. I had from book 1. But if I hadn't read book 1 first, I would have been lost. That's not what this book is meant to be. It got to the point where I read this book only to see a little more of the story. It didn't really stand alone.
No, I won't be reading more of this series. There are so many books and I can't waste my reading time on books that annoy me.
July 25, 2019
This series keeps getting better and better! Can't wait to continue on.
December 29, 2011
The Good
Young Adult is not a genre I frequently read, but the few YA books I have read I thoroughly enjoyed. Torn is no different. When I finally got to sit down and actually read the book, I did it in two days. I just had to know what was going to happen next.
We are introduced to Alec, the leader of his shapeshifter pack who's trying to save the pack and his family from the many attacks by the rival pack in town. He may seem like just another normal teenager on the outside, but the weight of the world is on his shoulders and your heart can't help but go out to him as he tries to keep his world from crumbling. By day, he goes to school, studies, and helps his younger sister with bullies. By night, he and the rest of his pack are in a bloody battle with a larger, more vicious pack who want to make the town their own personal playground. And with the Coun'hij, the overall rulers of the shapshifters, backing up the deranged pack and it's leader, Brandon, Alec and his pack are in a very precarious position to defend themselves without human notice.
But the drama does not end there. The new girl, Adriana, is a mystery Alec does not have time to solve. She is unique in a way that leaves Alec questioning her origins and her loyalties. She may be beautiful, but her hot and cold attitude both infuriates Alec as well as draws him. Does she need to be protected, or will she be the cause of the pack's downfall?
I was quite surprised by the savageness of the fights between the packs. There was no care for life and that only made the book that much better. I love no-holds-barred type of fighting. One wrong move can mean death. Now that is an intense concept and helps me, as the reader, become anxious and fearful for the characters I have an invested interest in. That's what a book should do, evoke emotions that reel me in and never lets go.
I loved the mystery behind Adriana and Alec's continuous attempts to figure her out. But as their relationship grows, I really enjoyed the gentle friendship and love that seems to bloom. In essence, they are both outsiders who don't want to be alone anymore. And, in each other, they see possibilities for a happier future.
Brandon was just insane, as well as most of his pack. I really grew to hate him and wanted him dead in bad, bad ways. I won't get into the details of the many ways I wanted him dead because I don't want to scare anyone off. But let's just say, as a writer, I literally spend hours thinking of the creative possibilities of offing someone. Hey, I never said I was sane, just funny.
As I read this book, I found myself being drawn into the diverse shapeshifters and their different characteristics. I'd be very interested to hear their stories in more depth, especially James' and Jasmin's. They have their own demons that only make a small appearance in the book.
The Bad
I really did like this book but there are a few things about it that made me reluctant to give it more stars. First is the writing. The writing overall was very good, but I found going through Alec's day at school to be boring and unnecessary. I don't need to know if Biology dragged again this week. The structure of going through Alec's school day was somewhat off-putting. It made me want to skip to the good parts.
Sometimes we are provided with information about certain stuff, like finances or homework, that I felt was wasted book space for more interesting topics like character history or world building.
There was a lot left unanswered and that bothered me. I don't mind if an ending is open-ended or if we are left with a few questions. But as for the many mysteries or questions that come up during the whole of the book, those are things the reader needs to find out in the end, at least somewhat. So we had this build up then no real satisfying conclusion expect for maybe two parts of the main plot.
The Snuggly
Come on, people, it's Young Adult. Ergo, no sex.
Overall
Murray is also coming out with Broken which is the same story as Torn but through Adriana's point of view. I really want to read that. Knowing how Adriana perceived all these events is something I not only want to know but need to know.
I will always have a couple things that will bother me about a book but that does not mean I didn't enjoy it. I read this book in two sittings, that should tell you something. I would recommend this book to all YA readers out there. It was a cute love story with raw violence and supernatural elements. A great combination and overall interesting book.
http://readingandwritingurbanfantasy....
Young Adult is not a genre I frequently read, but the few YA books I have read I thoroughly enjoyed. Torn is no different. When I finally got to sit down and actually read the book, I did it in two days. I just had to know what was going to happen next.
We are introduced to Alec, the leader of his shapeshifter pack who's trying to save the pack and his family from the many attacks by the rival pack in town. He may seem like just another normal teenager on the outside, but the weight of the world is on his shoulders and your heart can't help but go out to him as he tries to keep his world from crumbling. By day, he goes to school, studies, and helps his younger sister with bullies. By night, he and the rest of his pack are in a bloody battle with a larger, more vicious pack who want to make the town their own personal playground. And with the Coun'hij, the overall rulers of the shapshifters, backing up the deranged pack and it's leader, Brandon, Alec and his pack are in a very precarious position to defend themselves without human notice.
But the drama does not end there. The new girl, Adriana, is a mystery Alec does not have time to solve. She is unique in a way that leaves Alec questioning her origins and her loyalties. She may be beautiful, but her hot and cold attitude both infuriates Alec as well as draws him. Does she need to be protected, or will she be the cause of the pack's downfall?
I was quite surprised by the savageness of the fights between the packs. There was no care for life and that only made the book that much better. I love no-holds-barred type of fighting. One wrong move can mean death. Now that is an intense concept and helps me, as the reader, become anxious and fearful for the characters I have an invested interest in. That's what a book should do, evoke emotions that reel me in and never lets go.
I loved the mystery behind Adriana and Alec's continuous attempts to figure her out. But as their relationship grows, I really enjoyed the gentle friendship and love that seems to bloom. In essence, they are both outsiders who don't want to be alone anymore. And, in each other, they see possibilities for a happier future.
Brandon was just insane, as well as most of his pack. I really grew to hate him and wanted him dead in bad, bad ways. I won't get into the details of the many ways I wanted him dead because I don't want to scare anyone off. But let's just say, as a writer, I literally spend hours thinking of the creative possibilities of offing someone. Hey, I never said I was sane, just funny.
As I read this book, I found myself being drawn into the diverse shapeshifters and their different characteristics. I'd be very interested to hear their stories in more depth, especially James' and Jasmin's. They have their own demons that only make a small appearance in the book.
The Bad
I really did like this book but there are a few things about it that made me reluctant to give it more stars. First is the writing. The writing overall was very good, but I found going through Alec's day at school to be boring and unnecessary. I don't need to know if Biology dragged again this week. The structure of going through Alec's school day was somewhat off-putting. It made me want to skip to the good parts.
Sometimes we are provided with information about certain stuff, like finances or homework, that I felt was wasted book space for more interesting topics like character history or world building.
There was a lot left unanswered and that bothered me. I don't mind if an ending is open-ended or if we are left with a few questions. But as for the many mysteries or questions that come up during the whole of the book, those are things the reader needs to find out in the end, at least somewhat. So we had this build up then no real satisfying conclusion expect for maybe two parts of the main plot.
The Snuggly
Come on, people, it's Young Adult. Ergo, no sex.
Overall
Murray is also coming out with Broken which is the same story as Torn but through Adriana's point of view. I really want to read that. Knowing how Adriana perceived all these events is something I not only want to know but need to know.
I will always have a couple things that will bother me about a book but that does not mean I didn't enjoy it. I read this book in two sittings, that should tell you something. I would recommend this book to all YA readers out there. It was a cute love story with raw violence and supernatural elements. A great combination and overall interesting book.
http://readingandwritingurbanfantasy....
January 15, 2012
Reading Torn was like immersing myself in a new world. In fact, it felt like there was a whole complex history that I was just getting hints of because it was so familiar to the characters. This world has rival bands of teenage shape shifters who have remarkable powers and who are in a war for dominance. Into the battlefield comes a young woman named Adriana Paige. She immediately becomes a source of conflict between Alec and his rival Brandon. Alec is very suspicious of her at first because she is unusual. Here is what he says:
She glowed. Not just a faint flow of a normal person or the slightly stronger glow of a wolf. She shone with the light of a powerful moon born hybrid, and she didn't belong to my pack, so she was an intruder.
But intruder or not Alec is fascinated by her. She even starts appearing in his dreams where they begin to get to know each other. After she stands up for Rachel, Alec's human younger sister, Alec determines that the pack will protect her. All of the pack is not in favor of this because it just escalates the rivalry with Brandon's pack. Alec is torn between wanting to get closer to Adri and knowing he shouldn't both for her safety and for his.
The story is filled with intense emotion as Alec struggles to keep his pack safe from Brandon's. The social dynamics in the story are interesting. Both Alec and Brandon are incredibly wealthy but Alec is the one who controls the town of Sanctuary to to point of bribing (or blackmailing) the mayor and the school principal. Alec lost his father in some unexplained but very traumatic incident that escalated the problems that he is facing now. He has been in charge of the pack for years even though he is only seventeen. There is some conflict regarding the larger community of shape shifters because of Alec's heritage. He feels that the Coun'hij - a governing body of the shape shifters - would support Brandon if it was called in because of this heritage. He does know that the Coun'hij would punish both sides of the conflict if it risked any chance of disclosing the existence of shape shifters to the human population.
A lot of the story revolves around the nature of these shape shifters. Brandon has an advantage because he has manifested a special power that Alec can't match. Alec believes that in any face to face fight with Brandon, he will lose. He is always hoping that his power, whatever it might be, will manifest too. Another special power that the shape shifters have is related to their relationships with humans. Their touch is addictive. The human who becomes addicted to a shape shifter's touch can't survive without it. Alec knows this first hand because his mother is human. While she survived his father's death, she is living in the past and constantly cycling through emotions. She doesn't often even recognize that Rachel is her child or, if she does, she treats her badly. She is an object lesson for him about the dangers of loving a human.
This story was told from Alec's point of view and really emphasized his own struggle with his shape shifter nature. He even calls himself a monster and has to keep a tight control over his emotions and his actions. When I found out that Dean Murray had written a companion novel - Broken - which tells the story from Adri's point of view, I knew that I had to read it too to get the rest of the story.
This was an emotional and intense read with lots of fighting and violence. Alec is under tremendous amounts of stress trying to solve all of the problems on his shoulders but through it all he is honorable, protective, and caring to those under his care. I recommend it for older young adults because of the level of violence.
She glowed. Not just a faint flow of a normal person or the slightly stronger glow of a wolf. She shone with the light of a powerful moon born hybrid, and she didn't belong to my pack, so she was an intruder.
But intruder or not Alec is fascinated by her. She even starts appearing in his dreams where they begin to get to know each other. After she stands up for Rachel, Alec's human younger sister, Alec determines that the pack will protect her. All of the pack is not in favor of this because it just escalates the rivalry with Brandon's pack. Alec is torn between wanting to get closer to Adri and knowing he shouldn't both for her safety and for his.
The story is filled with intense emotion as Alec struggles to keep his pack safe from Brandon's. The social dynamics in the story are interesting. Both Alec and Brandon are incredibly wealthy but Alec is the one who controls the town of Sanctuary to to point of bribing (or blackmailing) the mayor and the school principal. Alec lost his father in some unexplained but very traumatic incident that escalated the problems that he is facing now. He has been in charge of the pack for years even though he is only seventeen. There is some conflict regarding the larger community of shape shifters because of Alec's heritage. He feels that the Coun'hij - a governing body of the shape shifters - would support Brandon if it was called in because of this heritage. He does know that the Coun'hij would punish both sides of the conflict if it risked any chance of disclosing the existence of shape shifters to the human population.
A lot of the story revolves around the nature of these shape shifters. Brandon has an advantage because he has manifested a special power that Alec can't match. Alec believes that in any face to face fight with Brandon, he will lose. He is always hoping that his power, whatever it might be, will manifest too. Another special power that the shape shifters have is related to their relationships with humans. Their touch is addictive. The human who becomes addicted to a shape shifter's touch can't survive without it. Alec knows this first hand because his mother is human. While she survived his father's death, she is living in the past and constantly cycling through emotions. She doesn't often even recognize that Rachel is her child or, if she does, she treats her badly. She is an object lesson for him about the dangers of loving a human.
This story was told from Alec's point of view and really emphasized his own struggle with his shape shifter nature. He even calls himself a monster and has to keep a tight control over his emotions and his actions. When I found out that Dean Murray had written a companion novel - Broken - which tells the story from Adri's point of view, I knew that I had to read it too to get the rest of the story.
This was an emotional and intense read with lots of fighting and violence. Alec is under tremendous amounts of stress trying to solve all of the problems on his shoulders but through it all he is honorable, protective, and caring to those under his care. I recommend it for older young adults because of the level of violence.
June 22, 2012
Sure, Alec Graves is a shape shifter but he’s also an entrepreneur, a father figure, a leader, a soother, a fierce enemy and a guy falling in love for the first time. That’s a lot to fit in around high school classes and homework. Feeling the pressures build, Alec knows things are going to come to a head soon. The signs have been there for months now.
Torn by Dean Murray takes readers into Alec’s world and holds them there as the story unfolds. He shifts into a wolf but that doesn’t make him a werewolf. He’s in high school but that doesn’t make him any less responsible for the lives of the shifters under his care. Most importantly, he has a conscience. He doesn’t take his role in the world lightly. Trying hard to please everyone, he eventually learns that sometimes you just have to do what’s right and let the pieces fall where they will.
Caught in a world hidden from humans, Alec does his best to do what shape shifters are supposed to do – protect the very same race they are hidden from. That becomes more and more difficult as the threat from his rival pack escalates to dangerous levels. He will soon find out who is really on his side and who is not.
Dean Murray weaves a tale of love and friendship, and of loss and war that leaves scars, both emotionally and physically. I found myself wrapped up in this world where taking the moral high ground is dangerous and falling in love may be even more so. The writing is engaging and the characters feel real. Mr. Murray has painted a world that I don’t think I’d want to live in but I certainly enjoyed looking in on it. In a world full of stories about shape shifters of every kind, this one will stay with me. I thank the author for a review copy and I give the book five stars.
Torn by Dean Murray takes readers into Alec’s world and holds them there as the story unfolds. He shifts into a wolf but that doesn’t make him a werewolf. He’s in high school but that doesn’t make him any less responsible for the lives of the shifters under his care. Most importantly, he has a conscience. He doesn’t take his role in the world lightly. Trying hard to please everyone, he eventually learns that sometimes you just have to do what’s right and let the pieces fall where they will.
Caught in a world hidden from humans, Alec does his best to do what shape shifters are supposed to do – protect the very same race they are hidden from. That becomes more and more difficult as the threat from his rival pack escalates to dangerous levels. He will soon find out who is really on his side and who is not.
Dean Murray weaves a tale of love and friendship, and of loss and war that leaves scars, both emotionally and physically. I found myself wrapped up in this world where taking the moral high ground is dangerous and falling in love may be even more so. The writing is engaging and the characters feel real. Mr. Murray has painted a world that I don’t think I’d want to live in but I certainly enjoyed looking in on it. In a world full of stories about shape shifters of every kind, this one will stay with me. I thank the author for a review copy and I give the book five stars.
January 7, 2012
For some reason I had trouble reading this book in the beginning. I didn´t really get into it. I wanted to give it a chance anyway and I am really happy I did so. Towards the middle of the book the storyline picked up and it was really exciting and a book in my taste. The story about Alec and Adri was really enticing and lovely.
Alec was a strong character whom I really grew to like. I didn´t feel him in the beginning. First I just thought he was a stuck up kid who got everything he wanted. In the end I started to understand him more and the choices he made started making sence and I really like him.
Adri I liked from the beginning. She was mysterious and you never knew where you had her and what her story was.
I really like that this book is written from the guys point of view since it´s not very often that a read those type of books.
In the book I got the chance to read an excerpt from the book Broken which is the same story but from Adris point of view. I´m really happy for that and I am so going to read Broken too.
So for all readers out there, pick this book up and read it because it was really good!
Alec was a strong character whom I really grew to like. I didn´t feel him in the beginning. First I just thought he was a stuck up kid who got everything he wanted. In the end I started to understand him more and the choices he made started making sence and I really like him.
Adri I liked from the beginning. She was mysterious and you never knew where you had her and what her story was.
I really like that this book is written from the guys point of view since it´s not very often that a read those type of books.
In the book I got the chance to read an excerpt from the book Broken which is the same story but from Adris point of view. I´m really happy for that and I am so going to read Broken too.
So for all readers out there, pick this book up and read it because it was really good!
January 21, 2012
I loved Torn just as much as Broken. I thik it is amazing to be able to see more than one character's view on what is happening and am ecstactic about getting the chance to get inside Alec's head. I am extremely exited and can not wait until Splintered comes out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Dean Murry is with out a doubt one of the best writers whose books I have had the privelege of reading and rereading.
March 20, 2013
This version explained all the things I was confused about in broken. The editing wasn't bad like in broken.
September 10, 2017
Torn is the first book in the Hidden Realms collection, which I picked up for free from Amazon.
I guess there were some indications that this was a second book for a series, but for the most part it stands alone fairly well. There were a handful of concepts and personal history lacking any kind of explanation, which I found a bit annoying, but now I hope may have been explained in the previous volume.
I did not actually add this to my romance shelf because the displayed relationships stay fairly clean. I would be willing to let my preteen daughter read it. Much of the action takes place in the confines of high school with the stereotypes running strong. The cliqueiness inherent in American high schools plays out well with the idea of rival wolf packs.
Despite being left with a lot of questions at the end, I do not see myself seeking out any other volumes of the Reflections series. Nor would I be totally disappointed to stumble upon them through my various means of securing free books.
I guess there were some indications that this was a second book for a series, but for the most part it stands alone fairly well. There were a handful of concepts and personal history lacking any kind of explanation, which I found a bit annoying, but now I hope may have been explained in the previous volume.
I did not actually add this to my romance shelf because the displayed relationships stay fairly clean. I would be willing to let my preteen daughter read it. Much of the action takes place in the confines of high school with the stereotypes running strong. The cliqueiness inherent in American high schools plays out well with the idea of rival wolf packs.
Despite being left with a lot of questions at the end, I do not see myself seeking out any other volumes of the Reflections series. Nor would I be totally disappointed to stumble upon them through my various means of securing free books.
June 23, 2017
I read this book way back in like 2011 and forgot all about everything that happened between Adri and Alec, so I decided to re-read this series, even if I read a different book between each of them.
Every story has two sides, and this story is no different. Torn is the exact same time frame as Broken, just as it was seen and felt from Alec's point-of-view. It is amazing just how much more dangerous or dramatic a story can get all from a different view from someone who has been through so many more different experiences than others.
I love where Dean took this story when he decided to show us how Alec felt and what all he saw. The struggles that Alec was faced with when he made the decisions he made. This can be read as a standalone, however, if you really want the full effect, read Broken and then this book.
Every story has two sides, and this story is no different. Torn is the exact same time frame as Broken, just as it was seen and felt from Alec's point-of-view. It is amazing just how much more dangerous or dramatic a story can get all from a different view from someone who has been through so many more different experiences than others.
I love where Dean took this story when he decided to show us how Alec felt and what all he saw. The struggles that Alec was faced with when he made the decisions he made. This can be read as a standalone, however, if you really want the full effect, read Broken and then this book.
November 19, 2016
A YA Paranormal book. Alec Graves is a shape shifter keeping the peace between his pack and Brandon's pack is getting tiresome. Because of the fight that will eventually come to be. A show down between two pack alphas. But thrown in the mix is a girl named Adriana. But she emits a powerful aurora around her. Is she fully human in need of help or a fairy hiding? Either way instincts say to protect and he will try and do his best to protect. Even if it seems she doesn't like him.
December 31, 2016
This merged and re-edited with Broken would have been awesome. After reading Broken and then reading this of course there were parts i glossed over. I actually didnt like that Brandon was this one dimensional typical bad guy just because. He could have had a story as well.
Why why are these little teeny boppers running the town? It seemed Ludicrous AF and on top of that home boy was worrying about grades?
Why why are these little teeny boppers running the town? It seemed Ludicrous AF and on top of that home boy was worrying about grades?
November 25, 2022
I loved this book. It was really insightful background for the first book. It's also cool to see the differences in view points of Alec and Adri.
August 30, 2023
I love this book. I always do.
September 28, 2024
This is a rehash of book 1. Nothing new.
March 14, 2017
Finally! I finished reading this book!!! Well, story was mediocre, characters were flat- specially Adri - she was particularly arid.
Overall, it was an okay read.
Overall, it was an okay read.
October 27, 2014
So I'm not entirely sure if this is a 2.5 or a 3.
This book is another way of starting the series but in Alec's point-of-view rather than Adri's.
WHAT I LIKED:
1) The action in the book started basically right away. Whereas in "Broken," it was the first 60% of the book learning about everything that made Adri faint - which was actually a non-issue in the second half - and memorizing her class schedule, here we saw the conflict basically in the first line.
2) Alec is way more likable than Adri. Adri's point of view was interesting in the sense that we see someone broken try to trudge through her day and be strong, but honestly, any time she opened her mouth she said something rude or really judgmental. Not a very likable character. Alec had a lot more depth in him.
3) Talking about character depth, we finally get to learn more about the pack. About what made them who they are and why they do the things they do. They made for wonderful secondary characters.
4) The world Murray created about shape-shifters took on more shape than it did in "Broken." Finally we get to see that there is more to that world than we originally though; a world with rules, corruption and repercussions.
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:
1) Basically, Adri. She became such a secondary character that had I not read "Broken," I would have though she had no substance (what little substance she does have). I learned so much more about the pack and the world, which honestly is what I wanted to read about the most, but still, it made it so that Alec's infatuation with Adri made no sense. I didn't read anything in their interactions at all that would have had him suddenly liking her midway through the book.
2) Although we learned a lot more about the world, there were still so many questions. Explanations Alec gave Adri in "Broken" were skipped over in "Torn," so that had I not read "Broken" I honestly would have been more confused about their origins. Also, the way Alec and the pack talked was, yes, very natural. They referenced their world without any added explanations that a lot of authors do that make character's dialogue very unnatural and stiff. Yet, we didn't get any sort of explanation from either Alec's thoughts nor conversations with Adri. So, although I was able to learn a lot from context clues, it was still vague enough to leave me with lots of questions, if that makes sense. Hopefully, this was deliberate and the author will fill in more gaps as the series continues.
So, I know that I have more in the list of things I like to the list of things I don't. But, the second list has more weight in it than the first.
The series is still slow enough that sometimes it's not an easy read. In this book, we were given an explanation or an out I guess for Adri's feelings for Alec because of the bond, but I still don't know why the heck he likes her.
I read "Broken" months ago and decided not to continue with the series. But after reading "Torn," Murray's world became much more interesting and I was left curious enough to give the next book a chance. Not the entire series, but I guess I'll take it book by book.
***UPDATE***
The series does get much better!
This book is another way of starting the series but in Alec's point-of-view rather than Adri's.
WHAT I LIKED:
1) The action in the book started basically right away. Whereas in "Broken," it was the first 60% of the book learning about everything that made Adri faint - which was actually a non-issue in the second half - and memorizing her class schedule, here we saw the conflict basically in the first line.
2) Alec is way more likable than Adri. Adri's point of view was interesting in the sense that we see someone broken try to trudge through her day and be strong, but honestly, any time she opened her mouth she said something rude or really judgmental. Not a very likable character. Alec had a lot more depth in him.
3) Talking about character depth, we finally get to learn more about the pack. About what made them who they are and why they do the things they do. They made for wonderful secondary characters.
4) The world Murray created about shape-shifters took on more shape than it did in "Broken." Finally we get to see that there is more to that world than we originally though; a world with rules, corruption and repercussions.
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:
1) Basically, Adri. She became such a secondary character that had I not read "Broken," I would have though she had no substance (what little substance she does have). I learned so much more about the pack and the world, which honestly is what I wanted to read about the most, but still, it made it so that Alec's infatuation with Adri made no sense. I didn't read anything in their interactions at all that would have had him suddenly liking her midway through the book.
2) Although we learned a lot more about the world, there were still so many questions. Explanations Alec gave Adri in "Broken" were skipped over in "Torn," so that had I not read "Broken" I honestly would have been more confused about their origins. Also, the way Alec and the pack talked was, yes, very natural. They referenced their world without any added explanations that a lot of authors do that make character's dialogue very unnatural and stiff. Yet, we didn't get any sort of explanation from either Alec's thoughts nor conversations with Adri. So, although I was able to learn a lot from context clues, it was still vague enough to leave me with lots of questions, if that makes sense. Hopefully, this was deliberate and the author will fill in more gaps as the series continues.
So, I know that I have more in the list of things I like to the list of things I don't. But, the second list has more weight in it than the first.
The series is still slow enough that sometimes it's not an easy read. In this book, we were given an explanation or an out I guess for Adri's feelings for Alec because of the bond, but I still don't know why the heck he likes her.
I read "Broken" months ago and decided not to continue with the series. But after reading "Torn," Murray's world became much more interesting and I was left curious enough to give the next book a chance. Not the entire series, but I guess I'll take it book by book.
***UPDATE***
The series does get much better!
February 1, 2012
My rating 3.5 coffee cups. Torn is a YA paranormal romance filled with shape-shifters and power struggles. Murray creates a tale that is both fascinating and unique. This novel kept me engaged and I finished it in one evening.
The tale focuses on Alec Graves. He is the alpha of his wolf pack and seventeen years old. They live in Sanctuary; a small town surrounded by woods. Alec is having trouble with another Alpha named Brandon. Brandon’s pack has been pushing deeper into Alex’s territory trying to claim dominance. Murray gives just enough back-plot to let us know there has been a rift, and that it was caused by Alex's deceased father. There is tension within Alex's pack and he is working to resolve it. Both packs are wealthy and Alec seems to control the small town, but Brandon is seeking to change that. As if Alec doesn’t have enough on his plate already in walks Adriana Paige. Something about Adriana is different; she glows but doesn’t appear to be a shape-shifter. Alec is leery of her at first, but she begins appearing in his dreams and ultimately she becomes very important to him. This would be lovely, but she had also attracted the attention of Brandon and she appears to be dating him.
The tale that unfolds is fast paced, with battle scenes as the shifters defend their territory. Murray’s descriptions of the shape-shifter transformation and battle strategies are fascinating. There are some key characters whose stories I wanted to learn more about. The romance between Adriana and Alex is sweet and develops at a natural pace. I really liked Alex. He has what seems like the weight of the world on his shoulders. In a lot of ways he is a typical teen, but he is also loyal, honorable and attempts to be a good leader. The ending offers an epic battle scene that had me quickly turning the pages.
Overall, I liked this character driven novel and recommend it to fans of shape-shifters and paranormal romance. I am hoping that Murray writes a second novel, so that we can learn more about the world and characters he has created. This novel was told from the POV of Alec and you can read it from Adriana’s point of view in the novel Broken. Torn is currently available in eBook format. I look forward to reading more work by this author.
I want to thank the author for providing this ARC in exchange for my unbiased review.
The tale focuses on Alec Graves. He is the alpha of his wolf pack and seventeen years old. They live in Sanctuary; a small town surrounded by woods. Alec is having trouble with another Alpha named Brandon. Brandon’s pack has been pushing deeper into Alex’s territory trying to claim dominance. Murray gives just enough back-plot to let us know there has been a rift, and that it was caused by Alex's deceased father. There is tension within Alex's pack and he is working to resolve it. Both packs are wealthy and Alec seems to control the small town, but Brandon is seeking to change that. As if Alec doesn’t have enough on his plate already in walks Adriana Paige. Something about Adriana is different; she glows but doesn’t appear to be a shape-shifter. Alec is leery of her at first, but she begins appearing in his dreams and ultimately she becomes very important to him. This would be lovely, but she had also attracted the attention of Brandon and she appears to be dating him.
The tale that unfolds is fast paced, with battle scenes as the shifters defend their territory. Murray’s descriptions of the shape-shifter transformation and battle strategies are fascinating. There are some key characters whose stories I wanted to learn more about. The romance between Adriana and Alex is sweet and develops at a natural pace. I really liked Alex. He has what seems like the weight of the world on his shoulders. In a lot of ways he is a typical teen, but he is also loyal, honorable and attempts to be a good leader. The ending offers an epic battle scene that had me quickly turning the pages.
Overall, I liked this character driven novel and recommend it to fans of shape-shifters and paranormal romance. I am hoping that Murray writes a second novel, so that we can learn more about the world and characters he has created. This novel was told from the POV of Alec and you can read it from Adriana’s point of view in the novel Broken. Torn is currently available in eBook format. I look forward to reading more work by this author.
I want to thank the author for providing this ARC in exchange for my unbiased review.
February 29, 2012
Torn by Dean Murray could fit into a couple of different genres especially when you take into account it's sister book of Broken. It fits best into YA and paranormal romance. The story follows Alec and his group of shifters in their daily lives as they try to survive the advances of their rival pack led by Brandon. Alec's life is a constant struggle as his pack is weaker just trying to survive while Brandon's is full of sadists that will kill innocents for fun. The most interesting aspect is the way the shifters work. Their are two levels of shifter, the first is where the person changes from human to animal form the second is called a hybrid, which is much more like the werewolves most people are familiar with. Oh and it's not a good idea to call them werewolves to their faces, they don't like it.
Torn and it's sister novel Broken tell the same story through different viewpoints. This book gives a much better look into how the society of the shifter's works, but leaves several things unexplained dealing with Adriana, the new girl in town. Since the town's population is closely monitored and controlled by the two rival clans any questions about the new people can lead to a tip in the power balance and potentially cause fatal trouble to Alec.
The book is well done with the unique spin on shifting being a huge positive in my eyes. Although the paranormal romance isn't really my thing, I was entertained throughout this book. I will say that my understanding and appreciation was magnified after reading Broken as well though. This is a far cry from Dean's Guadel Chronicles though it is still some quality work.
Review copy provided by the author.
Torn and it's sister novel Broken tell the same story through different viewpoints. This book gives a much better look into how the society of the shifter's works, but leaves several things unexplained dealing with Adriana, the new girl in town. Since the town's population is closely monitored and controlled by the two rival clans any questions about the new people can lead to a tip in the power balance and potentially cause fatal trouble to Alec.
The book is well done with the unique spin on shifting being a huge positive in my eyes. Although the paranormal romance isn't really my thing, I was entertained throughout this book. I will say that my understanding and appreciation was magnified after reading Broken as well though. This is a far cry from Dean's Guadel Chronicles though it is still some quality work.
Review copy provided by the author.
January 8, 2013
One of the most poetic, yet strategically written YA novels I've read, Dean Murray is an extreme romantic. His natural flow of feelings, barriers, and mind-blowing thoughts will curb your appetite for more.
The scent of the potted roses with which we'd filled the space between the stone walls had been divine all by itself, but once it mixed with Adri's natural scent it became something beyond description.
Alec, first of all, is an amazing character. Easy to fall for, easy to love and extremely difficult to nudge; unless you are a mere human who glows like no other human. His struggle between leadership, management, brotherhood, and selflessness is tested when he decides to take a special interest in Adriana Page, the new girl featured on every one's lips as she and her fainting spells take over the news of this small town.
Such an unexpected adventure told so beautifully deserves to be read!
The scent of the potted roses with which we'd filled the space between the stone walls had been divine all by itself, but once it mixed with Adri's natural scent it became something beyond description.
Alec, first of all, is an amazing character. Easy to fall for, easy to love and extremely difficult to nudge; unless you are a mere human who glows like no other human. His struggle between leadership, management, brotherhood, and selflessness is tested when he decides to take a special interest in Adriana Page, the new girl featured on every one's lips as she and her fainting spells take over the news of this small town.
Such an unexpected adventure told so beautifully deserves to be read!
February 27, 2014
I received this book free because I joined Dean Murray's mailing list.
Finally, a complete book which tells the story from the other perspective. You find out in this book why Alec reacted in certain situations the way he did. You also find out more about the lives of Alec and his shapeshifter family, the Coun'hij, how his mum became the way she is and more importantly the fight between Alec and Brandon from Alec's point of view. You know, I've read this scene twice now from two different points of view and it still takes my breath away!
This is the twin to Broken and as such I would say is more of a 'guy' book. There is lots of violence as the packs fight, there is in-fighting within the packs as some members jostle for ranking. However, as a 'girl' I read this book and thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it.
After reading Broken and Torn, I would definitely recommend to any YA, shapeshifter, Twilight fan. I can see this series just getting better and better.
http://archaeolibrarianologist.blogsp...
Finally, a complete book which tells the story from the other perspective. You find out in this book why Alec reacted in certain situations the way he did. You also find out more about the lives of Alec and his shapeshifter family, the Coun'hij, how his mum became the way she is and more importantly the fight between Alec and Brandon from Alec's point of view. You know, I've read this scene twice now from two different points of view and it still takes my breath away!
This is the twin to Broken and as such I would say is more of a 'guy' book. There is lots of violence as the packs fight, there is in-fighting within the packs as some members jostle for ranking. However, as a 'girl' I read this book and thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it.
After reading Broken and Torn, I would definitely recommend to any YA, shapeshifter, Twilight fan. I can see this series just getting better and better.
http://archaeolibrarianologist.blogsp...
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July 12, 2016This book was so good and had so many twists I couldn't put the book down. I love that it is like Broken just in Alecs' perspective rather than Adris'. I don't really have a favorite part, because I just love every Alec and Adri moment throughout the entire book. Best part is that there is no bad part. You don't want to miss a single word or you will be lost. Dean Murray put pure precision taking the first book and putting it into another major characters point of view. When I found out who's point of view I loved it because I could finally see the emotions and actions that Alec had the entire time during the Broken. I can't wait to read the next and see what happens. Seeing the way Alec thought and felt was breathtaking the entire book. I was so sad when the book ended on such a cliff hanger. This book is perfect if you love to read about supernatural beings and the romance that they are involved in. One more thing don't ever call them "werewolves" you may be killed by a shape shifter. On that note I hope you read this book along with everyother in the series.
July 15, 2012
Torn wasn’t my favorite werewolf story. It didn’t drag me into the story like other werewolf novels do. I felt that there were important details missing from the story that left me lost and confused – this may be due to the fact that there is a companion novel Broken that is based on Adri’s perspective that maybe fills in the holes. I like the idea of the story being told by 2 different characters but I think it would have been more beneficial for this story to have switched narrators than 2 different novels. The characters were interesting but flawed which was what made them unique. I’d also like to know a little bit more about why the 2 packs were against each other. There wasn’t much details on why just a few hints. Overall, Torn was an alright werewolf novel with room for improvement if the series continues.
September 15, 2015
I loved this book. Broken is the first book in the Reflection series and it's told from Adri's perspective, while Torn is the first book in the Reflection series but told from Alec's perspective. I do suggest you read Broken then Torn.
I loved seeing things play out from Alec's perspective. It's like a whole new story. Not only do we get to see what Alec was thinking in certain situations, we also get different details, things that Adri doesn't know. We learn more things about the packs life and we get to see how Alec's feelings for Adri grow. Also some unanswered questions and unexplained incidences from Broken are answered in Torn. However, after reading Torn you will have more questions and a few mysteries come up as well.
This series is really growing on me and I cannot wait to see what happens next.
I loved seeing things play out from Alec's perspective. It's like a whole new story. Not only do we get to see what Alec was thinking in certain situations, we also get different details, things that Adri doesn't know. We learn more things about the packs life and we get to see how Alec's feelings for Adri grow. Also some unanswered questions and unexplained incidences from Broken are answered in Torn. However, after reading Torn you will have more questions and a few mysteries come up as well.
This series is really growing on me and I cannot wait to see what happens next.
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December 10, 2011I was not too enamored of Torn to begin with, but at the end it did something that outright infuriated me. By now regular readers know that I'm not a fan of books that tell half a story and leave the rest for the sequels. Well, Torn is like that, but worse. It's one side of a story that is intended to be seen from two sides. In other words, there's a complete story here, you're just not getting it. For that, you have to pay for another book. And if Torn by itself is any indication, both together get you a story barely worth the price of one book.
Read the full review at Lupines and Lunatics
Read the full review at Lupines and Lunatics
May 30, 2012
Rating: 4.75/5
Really, really good story! It is very interesting when you get to read a novel told in the opposite sexes point of view. You almost feel like a fly on the wall. I really loved Alec's unselfish character who always thought everything through, and only based decision on the good of the entire pack. Torn is full of suspense on what will happen next with the new girl and what her true intentions are for being in their town. I loved every second of it and can't wait to read the other two novels from the series. Dean Murray did fantastic with this story and it couldn't have been better!
Really, really good story! It is very interesting when you get to read a novel told in the opposite sexes point of view. You almost feel like a fly on the wall. I really loved Alec's unselfish character who always thought everything through, and only based decision on the good of the entire pack. Torn is full of suspense on what will happen next with the new girl and what her true intentions are for being in their town. I loved every second of it and can't wait to read the other two novels from the series. Dean Murray did fantastic with this story and it couldn't have been better!
January 25, 2016
It was boring. I just skimmed through it basically. Yep...it sucked. There was nothing to hold my attention. I have already forgotten everything about it. Most of it was war talk, strategic moves, not for me. It was at a slow pace and was like that the whole book. Nothing I haven't read before. I've really have read better. I hope it picks up. I don't even think I will read the next one.
If you like books with a bit of love and lots of action, this is you cup of tea. So, please, read on. I just wasn't a compelling story with different elements. This one just droned on and on and on. Over all not worth my time.
If you like books with a bit of love and lots of action, this is you cup of tea. So, please, read on. I just wasn't a compelling story with different elements. This one just droned on and on and on. Over all not worth my time.
September 10, 2016
This YA Paranormal Romance was a great read. Characters were created with great insights into the minds of teenagers. It was a nice change to read from a males point of veiw (Alec's point of view). I really enjoyed the intense fights between the packs, and the The plot was good, and the pace moved along nicely. Overall it is a great book to reccomend to your teenagers. - Were Vamps Romance Reviews
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