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Children of the Gods
For as long as seventeen-year-old Reka Cushing can remember, she has watched her friends and her neighbors be stolen, their bodies used as hosts for the Halorans; an alien race that has come to earth posing as gods. For just as long, Reka has lived in fear of drawing the eye of a Haloran, keeping her head down, hoping not to be caught in their sights.
The only time she has ever been bold, tried to get what she wanted, a god, one more powerful, more dangerous than all others is watching
The only time she has ever been bold, tried to get what she wanted, a god, one more powerful, more dangerous than all others is watching
158 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 24, 2011
5 people are currently reading
144 people want to read
About the author
Monica Millard
10 books58 followersMonica Millard was born and raised in Alaska. She doesn’t own a dog sled team, but has worked in a place where there are buildings with caged exterior doors to keep employees from being eaten by polar bears.
Monica’s favorite quote is, “People do not see the world as it is, they see it as they are.” She is not sure who said it but it is a quote that has always stuck with her. She loves to read because it allows her to see the world through someone else’s perspective and experience something she would otherwise never be able to. Sharing that same experience with others through her own writing is a possibility that makes her excited to get out of bed in the morning.
She lives in Wasilla, Alaska with all her critters, some four legged and others that stand on two. She writes Science fiction, fantasy, and Paranormal for young adults.
Monica’s favorite quote is, “People do not see the world as it is, they see it as they are.” She is not sure who said it but it is a quote that has always stuck with her. She loves to read because it allows her to see the world through someone else’s perspective and experience something she would otherwise never be able to. Sharing that same experience with others through her own writing is a possibility that makes her excited to get out of bed in the morning.
She lives in Wasilla, Alaska with all her critters, some four legged and others that stand on two. She writes Science fiction, fantasy, and Paranormal for young adults.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
November 20, 2020
Reka Cushing lives in a world where aliens have landed and every so often, they have everyone of a certain age line up and they choose one young person to become implanted with a worm that is inside them and joining the ranks of the aliens. This time Reka is chosen and forced to have the worm implanted inside her, but instead of the personality stored inside the worm being the dominant personality, this time the host body is the dominant personality, leaving the worm to be a distant whisper in the back of her mind. Sometimes that whisper is agonizingly loud, showing her all sorts of horrible things, trying to turn her against the worm’s alien husband. But she finds she can ignore the whisper enough to notice just how kind and caring her new husband is, and how surprised he seems to be that she is nice to him back. Jaxson has been kind and patient for two thousand years towards his wife Anaya who has hated him the entire time, and he tentatively and excitedly begins to show Reka everything about the ship and everything Anaya has been denying herself, but Reka is convinced Jaxson might turn on her if he knew Reka was the dominant personality rather than just a change in heart of his longtime wife Anaya, which would kill her since she finds herself slowly falling in love with him.
“Book one” suggests that there are more books in the series. Sadly, this isn’t the case since it’s been 9 years since it was published. There is however a short prequel. Very sad since I really would like to see more dystopian books on the market. This is a love story. There’s no graphic sex (it’s all off camera -though I really would have appreciated some details about that first night), but it is implied in quite a few scenes, but mostly we just see them in bed together but not actually doing anything, and the book does revolve mostly on their relationship, with not much else happening in the book. They are a sweet, sappy couple, both doting on each other as their relationship progresses and Reka figures out more and more about what can be done on the ship (which doesn’t seem like much aside from eating and recreation, and whatever it is that Jaxson does for a job). The one major complaint I had with the book was that as soon as he popped up in the book, I was asking questions about Griff. Even during the training session, Reka doesn’t ask a single detail about him. You’d think she would have asked who he was before he came to work as a guard, what his people were like, what things does he like to do in his free time, family details, etc, considering he was in so many of the scenes shadowing Jaxson and guarding her. But we don’t get any details about him until the very final couple of pages. There was also her power which compelled people that was mentioned in the very beginning, and then never mentioned throughout the book, until the very end and I kept wondering why have it in the beginning if it wasn’t going to be used as a focal piece (and it wasn’t really. She didn’t even bother to use it on Jaxson at any point that I ever saw). And thirdly, once she has the implantation, she doesn’t really think about her family at all until about halfway into the book. Another reviewer compared this to Stephanie Meyers’ The Host, and that comparison is true with the relationship of Reka and Anaya. (We’ve seen hosts and symbionts in other scifi books and shows as well, like Stargate and Star Trek: DS9). And though it was sappy, I did love the romance. And Jaxson is such a wonderful character, even though we only see him from Reka’s point of view, trying to understand who he really is apart from Anaya trying to cloud her opinion of him. I cried at the end.
“Book one” suggests that there are more books in the series. Sadly, this isn’t the case since it’s been 9 years since it was published. There is however a short prequel. Very sad since I really would like to see more dystopian books on the market. This is a love story. There’s no graphic sex (it’s all off camera -though I really would have appreciated some details about that first night), but it is implied in quite a few scenes, but mostly we just see them in bed together but not actually doing anything, and the book does revolve mostly on their relationship, with not much else happening in the book. They are a sweet, sappy couple, both doting on each other as their relationship progresses and Reka figures out more and more about what can be done on the ship (which doesn’t seem like much aside from eating and recreation, and whatever it is that Jaxson does for a job). The one major complaint I had with the book was that as soon as he popped up in the book, I was asking questions about Griff. Even during the training session, Reka doesn’t ask a single detail about him. You’d think she would have asked who he was before he came to work as a guard, what his people were like, what things does he like to do in his free time, family details, etc, considering he was in so many of the scenes shadowing Jaxson and guarding her. But we don’t get any details about him until the very final couple of pages. There was also her power which compelled people that was mentioned in the very beginning, and then never mentioned throughout the book, until the very end and I kept wondering why have it in the beginning if it wasn’t going to be used as a focal piece (and it wasn’t really. She didn’t even bother to use it on Jaxson at any point that I ever saw). And thirdly, once she has the implantation, she doesn’t really think about her family at all until about halfway into the book. Another reviewer compared this to Stephanie Meyers’ The Host, and that comparison is true with the relationship of Reka and Anaya. (We’ve seen hosts and symbionts in other scifi books and shows as well, like Stargate and Star Trek: DS9). And though it was sappy, I did love the romance. And Jaxson is such a wonderful character, even though we only see him from Reka’s point of view, trying to understand who he really is apart from Anaya trying to cloud her opinion of him. I cried at the end.
September 2, 2016
*I received this ebook for review from the author*
In the Children of the Gods the Halorian's came to earth to stop starvation and to restore order to the people but in doing so the Gods only request is a sacrifice. For the Sacrifice the Gods ask for a child who is between the ages of 15-19 to be choosen boy or girl to become the next "skin/vessel" for the Gods to use&control.
When Reka is Choosen by one of the Gods also know as Halorans she immediately thinks her life is over. Before Reka is choosen she had great plans for her normal life
1.To be paired with Niko her "crush" as her mate when she turns 19
2.Turn 19 so she wouldn't be chosen as a sacrifice
3.Keep her gift a secret
but everything Reka has set up or dreamed for her future will change by the hands of Jaxson and Anaya. The two Halorans/couple who have chosen her body to be used as Anaya's new body. Even though Reka doesn't give her body freely without a fight the infusion happens but when Reka wakes up from the procedure she discovers she is still in control and Anaya's spirit is in the background. now Reka must figure out how to escape or endure having to pretend she is Halorian Queen for centuries to come.
Pros: Really fun and steamy love hate romance Between Reka,Jaxson,&Anaya,Okay world building and the characters were believable. Even though the whole plot mainly takes place in one place I didn't get to bored with the repetitious activities of Reka's day in the "Castle". I dont know how the author is going to do the second book based off of reading the first book which is a good thing because I would be waiting for the second installment to see the continuation of the story.
Cons: I was really disappointing and heart broken at the end of this book. I felt like the author took away my favorite obsession and there's no way I can ever get it back the way it ended abruptly like it did. I am also disappointing about not having a lot of Niko in the story and I wish he played or had a big part in the storyline.
Overall: I thought this book was fantastic! It had a lot of romance you dont see coming and the Characters were developed to where the story and the whole feel was believable. The growing relationship between Jaxson and Reka was the best part of this book and I enjoyed the ride.i loved the world/scenery during the read.
May 12, 2012
It amazes me how so many other reviews compare this book with THE HOST and nobody seems to hear the distant echo of THE HUNGER GAMES. Luckily for me, I haven’t read any of these books (I watched the movie, but beyond that, nah) and therefore my perception of CHILDREN wasn’t tarnished by other authors.
What I appreciated the most about this book was its conciseness. Although, there were days (within the book) that it seemed like nothing happened, every little step (a touch, a glance, a simple words exchange) built my understanding of the relationship between the main characters.
Coming from a Man Down South who writes erotica, the love scenes were mild but sweet enough to keep me interested. Other people might think there were too many of these skin-to-skin moments for a YA book, but in total honesty that line between what is YA and Mature is downright blurry. Many PG13 movies have a lot more violence and skin in comparison to this book.
Even if many background details were swiftly explained or altogether omitted, I grasped the story from beginning to end. I felt somehow cheated with the almost rushed last chapter but it didn’t bother me so much as to say it diminished my appreciation of the story as a whole.
Books written in first person aren’t my cup of tea, especially when it’s a girl doing the talking because in many occasion they seemed not just naïve but immature. Not the case here. Reka might be young, but she knows enough of life to understand (if not fully, at least, coherently) that every action has a reaction. Hey, we have to accept she is a girl in love, and Love usually fogs your ability to be rational and act like an adult, even when (technically) you’re not one.
I recommend this book if you want a story that’s interesting and doesn’t drag you around with unnecessary flourishes.
I received this book thanks to The Nexus group ARR program.
What I appreciated the most about this book was its conciseness. Although, there were days (within the book) that it seemed like nothing happened, every little step (a touch, a glance, a simple words exchange) built my understanding of the relationship between the main characters.
Coming from a Man Down South who writes erotica, the love scenes were mild but sweet enough to keep me interested. Other people might think there were too many of these skin-to-skin moments for a YA book, but in total honesty that line between what is YA and Mature is downright blurry. Many PG13 movies have a lot more violence and skin in comparison to this book.
Even if many background details were swiftly explained or altogether omitted, I grasped the story from beginning to end. I felt somehow cheated with the almost rushed last chapter but it didn’t bother me so much as to say it diminished my appreciation of the story as a whole.
Books written in first person aren’t my cup of tea, especially when it’s a girl doing the talking because in many occasion they seemed not just naïve but immature. Not the case here. Reka might be young, but she knows enough of life to understand (if not fully, at least, coherently) that every action has a reaction. Hey, we have to accept she is a girl in love, and Love usually fogs your ability to be rational and act like an adult, even when (technically) you’re not one.
I recommend this book if you want a story that’s interesting and doesn’t drag you around with unnecessary flourishes.
I received this book thanks to The Nexus group ARR program.
January 23, 2012
First thoughts:
This was definitely one roller-coaster of emotional limits. The intensity and idea itself was filled with all of the emotions. This wasn’t your run of the mill type of story, there was some added flare and character to this book that made reading it both enjoyable and fast. This is definitely a book that doesn’t take long to read and can if time allowed be read in one sitting.
Plot:
Though this book started a bit slow to me it did have an overall good plot. The beginning was just trying to introduce the reader to the ideas of the world and the characters themselves. But after the first few chapters of the book the story really picked up and I instantly connected with both the characters and the world. I wanted no needed to read more, the more ideas and twists were unraveled the more I enjoyed this book. The action was at times intense, especially the end (won’t reveal it to you but it definitely both shocked and stunned me). The entire plot was planned to the tee, each conflict and twist planned accordingly and I enjoyed not knowing every little detail of what was to happen.
Characters:
The characters like I said were distant at the beginning, the author did a great job on creating different personalities and attributes but I felt like I was looking in from a glass window instead of actually being in the room. But as soon as Reka the main protagonist was introduced into the books main purpose (a few chapters in) I was able to both instantly connect with her but also with the other characters around her. I enjoyed being able to both like and connect with the antagonist, it’s not something a reader is privileged to often. Usually the bad guy is someone you vote against but the author gave us a side of him that made me want to know him more; to sympathize with. Also I was able to really relate with some of the characters, the way they felt with certain situations seemed quite believable.
Transformation of the Character:
Okay so I’m not sure if Reka really did any TRUE transforming. She in a way battled in her mind constantly but I think we were able to see her true character in the beginning and throughout this book she was battling to keep it. So in a way she kind of transformed but she didn’t make a normal transformation. As for the other characters, some of them changed a little but in all the transformations were kept to a minimum.
Description:
I really enjoyed this author’s use of description. She really described some pivotal scenes very well. She didn’t leave the reader without a good picture on what she was trying to get across. She used just the right amount in this story, she never over described something or left you with a scene painted in only black and white; she colored her world with an array of beautiful colors and ideas. I found some of her descriptions to be very creative, the ideas and images she conquered up were just breath-taking.
Style:
The author’s style was perfect for the story, she did a really job on creating mental and physical conversations. I liked how she got Reka to have inner turmoil and outer and they blended so nicely. The chapters were divided smoothly and I didn’t feel the author was rough on transitions she had everything organized and planned accordingly. And the use of first person helped both the reader connect with the character but also get a more narrow perspective, allowing things to be hidden in the dark until time.
Goodreads Summary:
For as long as seventeen-year-old Reka Cushing can remember, she has watched her friends and her neighbors be stolen, their bodies used as hosts for the Halorans; an alien race that has come to earth posing as gods. For just as long, Reka has lived in fear of drawing the eye of a Haloran, keeping her head down, hoping not to be caught in their sites.
The only time she has ever been bold, tried to get what she wanted, a god, one more powerful, more dangerous than all others is watching.
Last Thoughts:
I would recommend this book to any fantasy and reader of romance. The romances in this book were so sweet and swoon worthy. I would also recommend this to any reader who enjoys a good and fast read; just remember the beginning can be a little slow but after you get past it, it’s a fast read from there. I wouldn’t recommend this to anyone who doesn’t enjoy romance; this book has tons of it! I really enjoyed this book a lot and the ending was spectacular I can’t wait to find out what that last part was all about. This author is definitely someone I’ll be looking for future reads.
This was definitely one roller-coaster of emotional limits. The intensity and idea itself was filled with all of the emotions. This wasn’t your run of the mill type of story, there was some added flare and character to this book that made reading it both enjoyable and fast. This is definitely a book that doesn’t take long to read and can if time allowed be read in one sitting.
Plot:
Though this book started a bit slow to me it did have an overall good plot. The beginning was just trying to introduce the reader to the ideas of the world and the characters themselves. But after the first few chapters of the book the story really picked up and I instantly connected with both the characters and the world. I wanted no needed to read more, the more ideas and twists were unraveled the more I enjoyed this book. The action was at times intense, especially the end (won’t reveal it to you but it definitely both shocked and stunned me). The entire plot was planned to the tee, each conflict and twist planned accordingly and I enjoyed not knowing every little detail of what was to happen.
Characters:
The characters like I said were distant at the beginning, the author did a great job on creating different personalities and attributes but I felt like I was looking in from a glass window instead of actually being in the room. But as soon as Reka the main protagonist was introduced into the books main purpose (a few chapters in) I was able to both instantly connect with her but also with the other characters around her. I enjoyed being able to both like and connect with the antagonist, it’s not something a reader is privileged to often. Usually the bad guy is someone you vote against but the author gave us a side of him that made me want to know him more; to sympathize with. Also I was able to really relate with some of the characters, the way they felt with certain situations seemed quite believable.
Transformation of the Character:
Okay so I’m not sure if Reka really did any TRUE transforming. She in a way battled in her mind constantly but I think we were able to see her true character in the beginning and throughout this book she was battling to keep it. So in a way she kind of transformed but she didn’t make a normal transformation. As for the other characters, some of them changed a little but in all the transformations were kept to a minimum.
Description:
I really enjoyed this author’s use of description. She really described some pivotal scenes very well. She didn’t leave the reader without a good picture on what she was trying to get across. She used just the right amount in this story, she never over described something or left you with a scene painted in only black and white; she colored her world with an array of beautiful colors and ideas. I found some of her descriptions to be very creative, the ideas and images she conquered up were just breath-taking.
Style:
The author’s style was perfect for the story, she did a really job on creating mental and physical conversations. I liked how she got Reka to have inner turmoil and outer and they blended so nicely. The chapters were divided smoothly and I didn’t feel the author was rough on transitions she had everything organized and planned accordingly. And the use of first person helped both the reader connect with the character but also get a more narrow perspective, allowing things to be hidden in the dark until time.
Goodreads Summary:
For as long as seventeen-year-old Reka Cushing can remember, she has watched her friends and her neighbors be stolen, their bodies used as hosts for the Halorans; an alien race that has come to earth posing as gods. For just as long, Reka has lived in fear of drawing the eye of a Haloran, keeping her head down, hoping not to be caught in their sites.
The only time she has ever been bold, tried to get what she wanted, a god, one more powerful, more dangerous than all others is watching.
Last Thoughts:
I would recommend this book to any fantasy and reader of romance. The romances in this book were so sweet and swoon worthy. I would also recommend this to any reader who enjoys a good and fast read; just remember the beginning can be a little slow but after you get past it, it’s a fast read from there. I wouldn’t recommend this to anyone who doesn’t enjoy romance; this book has tons of it! I really enjoyed this book a lot and the ending was spectacular I can’t wait to find out what that last part was all about. This author is definitely someone I’ll be looking for future reads.
July 2, 2012
Summary:
Reka is a young woman who has been chosen to harbor the essence of the goddess queen Anaya. It is an event that keeps the inhabitants of King Jaxson happy as his queen is reincarnated with a new body every 20 years. The world lies in a ship on earth that harbors a kingdom of gods, the Halorans, that have the ability to use humans as their hosts. You will have to read the story to find out exactly how that was handled, but the experience will be rewarding if you do.
**Small spoiler alert**
Things that intrigued me:
1- Jaxson and Reka's (aka Anaya) relationship. The love-hate was done well and progressed very naturally. It was different from other girl marries boy she hates storylines that I've read. And Jaxson didn't turn out to be the douche that I expected him to be. I found myself cheering for this strange couple simply because they were...well, strange.
2- Griff-He was mysterious enough that I wanted to know more about his story too.
3- The unique storyline. I don't think I've ever read a book where the main character was handled in the way that Reka was in this one. But that is my own opinion as I have not read many sci-fi books.
4- A few of the secondary characters, more specifically, the kitchen staff and especially Katy. I do hope to see more development with her in the next installment.
Things that made me go hmm:
1- I had to go back and re-read a few sections in order to understand what was going on. The beginning was a bit hard to comprehend, but as the story progressed I started to understand what had happened. There were also a couple of places that I just didn't get what was going on, even with a re-read. For example, when Anaya and Jax are eating, she says something about him having his first day off in a thousand years. I kept reminding myself that Jax is a god. But what kind? And where was this world the ship they were on sailed through? Since humans were mentioned, I assumed it was earth. It wasn't until I reached the end of the book that I figured it all out.
2- The character named Duester. I didn't understand why she got away with certain things. I realize that her character was written as a source of conflict, but she did things that were completely inexcusable and execution worthy.
3- There were a few characters that I would like to have seen developed a little more: Griff, Katy, and even Duester. Also, I would like to have had more description of the ship they were on before the end of the book. For some reason, I kept thinking of the movie Waterworld when in reality I believe I should've been thinking more of Close Encounters.
4-The ending. I didn't understand why it had to happen the way it did. But that could be due to the author's fine job of tugging at heart strings a bit.
Overall, a good read once you grasp the essential elements of the storyline. Even though it was a shorter novel, I wouldn't say that it was a quick read. It's a story that should be read carefully in order to appreciate and understand the unique storyline. If you despise love triangles than you'll find a refreshing break here. There is a triangle in a sense, but it is handled in a unique way.
Although I enjoyed Children of the Gods, I felt like the story ended just when it hit its stride. Important plot points and things that I'd been wondering about throughout the story were suddenly brought to vivid life at the end. This strangely beautiful tale could be improved greatly by extending the storyline with a few additional chapters. If there is a sequel, I would read it. I would recommend this story to fans of sci-fi, fantasy, and post-apocalyptic stories with a splash of romance added to the mix.
My rating: 3.5 wings
Reka is a young woman who has been chosen to harbor the essence of the goddess queen Anaya. It is an event that keeps the inhabitants of King Jaxson happy as his queen is reincarnated with a new body every 20 years. The world lies in a ship on earth that harbors a kingdom of gods, the Halorans, that have the ability to use humans as their hosts. You will have to read the story to find out exactly how that was handled, but the experience will be rewarding if you do.
**Small spoiler alert**
Things that intrigued me:
1- Jaxson and Reka's (aka Anaya) relationship. The love-hate was done well and progressed very naturally. It was different from other girl marries boy she hates storylines that I've read. And Jaxson didn't turn out to be the douche that I expected him to be. I found myself cheering for this strange couple simply because they were...well, strange.
2- Griff-He was mysterious enough that I wanted to know more about his story too.
3- The unique storyline. I don't think I've ever read a book where the main character was handled in the way that Reka was in this one. But that is my own opinion as I have not read many sci-fi books.
4- A few of the secondary characters, more specifically, the kitchen staff and especially Katy. I do hope to see more development with her in the next installment.
Things that made me go hmm:
1- I had to go back and re-read a few sections in order to understand what was going on. The beginning was a bit hard to comprehend, but as the story progressed I started to understand what had happened. There were also a couple of places that I just didn't get what was going on, even with a re-read. For example, when Anaya and Jax are eating, she says something about him having his first day off in a thousand years. I kept reminding myself that Jax is a god. But what kind? And where was this world the ship they were on sailed through? Since humans were mentioned, I assumed it was earth. It wasn't until I reached the end of the book that I figured it all out.
2- The character named Duester. I didn't understand why she got away with certain things. I realize that her character was written as a source of conflict, but she did things that were completely inexcusable and execution worthy.
3- There were a few characters that I would like to have seen developed a little more: Griff, Katy, and even Duester. Also, I would like to have had more description of the ship they were on before the end of the book. For some reason, I kept thinking of the movie Waterworld when in reality I believe I should've been thinking more of Close Encounters.
4-The ending. I didn't understand why it had to happen the way it did. But that could be due to the author's fine job of tugging at heart strings a bit.
Overall, a good read once you grasp the essential elements of the storyline. Even though it was a shorter novel, I wouldn't say that it was a quick read. It's a story that should be read carefully in order to appreciate and understand the unique storyline. If you despise love triangles than you'll find a refreshing break here. There is a triangle in a sense, but it is handled in a unique way.
Although I enjoyed Children of the Gods, I felt like the story ended just when it hit its stride. Important plot points and things that I'd been wondering about throughout the story were suddenly brought to vivid life at the end. This strangely beautiful tale could be improved greatly by extending the storyline with a few additional chapters. If there is a sequel, I would read it. I would recommend this story to fans of sci-fi, fantasy, and post-apocalyptic stories with a splash of romance added to the mix.
My rating: 3.5 wings
April 30, 2012
I would like to thank the author Monica Millard for posting her book Children of the Gods (A Chosen Novel) in the group The Nexus in the discussion topic Authors Requesting Reviews on Goodreads for review and allowing me to read and review it.
Reka a seventeen year old girl lived inside the City of the Gods. Everyone outside of the city thought they lived a perfect life never wanting for nothing, having all of their needs met. But they were so wrong inside the city they had no freedom, the one thing that they wanted the most. The gods told them what kind of music they could listen too, what foods they could eat. They lived a life of fear.
A very long time ago Reka's village was very poor. They never had enough food to feed everyone to keep them from starving. The Holorans came to them pretending to be gods, they were aliens. The Holorans promised them that they would take care of them and no one would ever be hungry ever again. They promised them the moon. What did they ask for in exchange for providing their ever need, want? They asked that they give their children to them so they could use their bodies as host for the Holorans.
On the night of the choosing everyone that was the right age to be in the choosing all lined up in their rows. Reka was one of the chosen. They took her away to her new home which was a ship. Reka was so terrified when they reached the ship and the doors started to slide open that she almost fainted. Upon entering the ship she learns that she will be the host body to their queen. They place an alien worm inside of her that is the queen. Reka is a very strong person; she is the stronger of the two between her and the queen inside her body. This is not normal; the queen is supposed to be the stronger of the two with Reka only being an annoyance inside her head.
Reka tries to be the person that she thinks that the queen is from what everyone tells her about herself, the queen. But on occasion it is very hard for Reka, she is not a mean nor a hateful person. Neither does she want to be. Reka tries to make the lives of the people on the ship better for them. She changes some of the rules that were applied by the queen herself. She does end up making friends with the staff.
Reka doesn't execpt nor wants to love Jaxson but she has no choice. She finds herself liking and loving Jaxson no matter how hard she tries. Jaxson is a very nice and handsome man. She also likes Jaxson's guard Griff too, she never expected this either. Although she does have some conflict with a woman by the name of Duester. Duester is jealous of Reka and would very much like to have Jaxson for herself. There were times that I wasn't sure if Duester was jealous of Reka because she wanted Jaxson or because the queen was her friend.
I really enjoyed reading Children of the Gods. It was extremly well written. I was kinda disappointed in how it did end though. I was definetly expecting something more something way different than what did happen. I hope that their will be more stories about Reka's life.
Reka a seventeen year old girl lived inside the City of the Gods. Everyone outside of the city thought they lived a perfect life never wanting for nothing, having all of their needs met. But they were so wrong inside the city they had no freedom, the one thing that they wanted the most. The gods told them what kind of music they could listen too, what foods they could eat. They lived a life of fear.
A very long time ago Reka's village was very poor. They never had enough food to feed everyone to keep them from starving. The Holorans came to them pretending to be gods, they were aliens. The Holorans promised them that they would take care of them and no one would ever be hungry ever again. They promised them the moon. What did they ask for in exchange for providing their ever need, want? They asked that they give their children to them so they could use their bodies as host for the Holorans.
On the night of the choosing everyone that was the right age to be in the choosing all lined up in their rows. Reka was one of the chosen. They took her away to her new home which was a ship. Reka was so terrified when they reached the ship and the doors started to slide open that she almost fainted. Upon entering the ship she learns that she will be the host body to their queen. They place an alien worm inside of her that is the queen. Reka is a very strong person; she is the stronger of the two between her and the queen inside her body. This is not normal; the queen is supposed to be the stronger of the two with Reka only being an annoyance inside her head.
Reka tries to be the person that she thinks that the queen is from what everyone tells her about herself, the queen. But on occasion it is very hard for Reka, she is not a mean nor a hateful person. Neither does she want to be. Reka tries to make the lives of the people on the ship better for them. She changes some of the rules that were applied by the queen herself. She does end up making friends with the staff.
Reka doesn't execpt nor wants to love Jaxson but she has no choice. She finds herself liking and loving Jaxson no matter how hard she tries. Jaxson is a very nice and handsome man. She also likes Jaxson's guard Griff too, she never expected this either. Although she does have some conflict with a woman by the name of Duester. Duester is jealous of Reka and would very much like to have Jaxson for herself. There were times that I wasn't sure if Duester was jealous of Reka because she wanted Jaxson or because the queen was her friend.
I really enjoyed reading Children of the Gods. It was extremly well written. I was kinda disappointed in how it did end though. I was definetly expecting something more something way different than what did happen. I hope that their will be more stories about Reka's life.
June 22, 2012
Children of the Gods (A Chosen Novel) by Monica Millard
Blurb:
For as long as seventeen-year-old Reka Cushing can remember, she has watched her friends and her neighbors be stolen, their bodies used as hosts for the Halorans; an alien race that has come to earth posing as gods. For just as long, Reka has lived in fear of drawing the eye of a Haloran, keeping her head down, hoping not to be caught in their sights.
The only time she has ever been bold, tried to get what she wanted, a god, one more powerful, more dangerous than all others is watching
Edition Info:
Kindle Edition - Published (first published December 24th 2011)
ASINB006PZFWQ6
In a nut shell: I got this book from Goodreads.com as a Read to Review book. It was a good story with an original concept and uniquely done. I cried… I chuckled… I really did enjoy the story and the characters.
My Rating: 3.5/5 Stars
Details:
Ok I know what you are thinking… Why only 3.5 if you cried? **because we all know I don’t usually cry reading books** buuuuuuuut I didn’t love the book… I liked it yes, but didn’t love it. It just didn’t speak to me like some of my favorites have – and because of that is it a 3.5 review for me.
Reka and Jaxson – I absolutely LOVE the story here and the progression of the relationship. The only part that bothered me was not really being given a time line on this. It isn’t that it was confusing or anything like that; there just wasn’t any time frame on when things happened… had Reka been there a day, a week, a month, what? I think you’ll understand what I’m talking about as you read this book.
Like I said in the nut shell - this is a good story. I like the fight that Reka has in her and the inner issues she has throughout the book.
The last thing I want to say is about the ending of this book – which absolutely gutted me… not going to even try to lie about it – I hated the ending, but it is good because it brought out the emotion I felt for the characters. I hated the ending of this book in the best way possible – it isn’t what I wanted to happen but … you know how that goes! I’m not the author – I don’t have a say – it is hated in the best possible way.
So you need to pick up a copy of this book, and once you read it come back and let me know what you think! It is a steal for only $2.99 – click below to buy at your preferred shopping site
Amazon
B&N
Smashwords
Until Next Time,
@jendsmit
Blurb:
For as long as seventeen-year-old Reka Cushing can remember, she has watched her friends and her neighbors be stolen, their bodies used as hosts for the Halorans; an alien race that has come to earth posing as gods. For just as long, Reka has lived in fear of drawing the eye of a Haloran, keeping her head down, hoping not to be caught in their sights.
The only time she has ever been bold, tried to get what she wanted, a god, one more powerful, more dangerous than all others is watching
Edition Info:
Kindle Edition - Published (first published December 24th 2011)
ASINB006PZFWQ6
In a nut shell: I got this book from Goodreads.com as a Read to Review book. It was a good story with an original concept and uniquely done. I cried… I chuckled… I really did enjoy the story and the characters.
My Rating: 3.5/5 Stars
Details:
Ok I know what you are thinking… Why only 3.5 if you cried? **because we all know I don’t usually cry reading books** buuuuuuuut I didn’t love the book… I liked it yes, but didn’t love it. It just didn’t speak to me like some of my favorites have – and because of that is it a 3.5 review for me.
Reka and Jaxson – I absolutely LOVE the story here and the progression of the relationship. The only part that bothered me was not really being given a time line on this. It isn’t that it was confusing or anything like that; there just wasn’t any time frame on when things happened… had Reka been there a day, a week, a month, what? I think you’ll understand what I’m talking about as you read this book.
Like I said in the nut shell - this is a good story. I like the fight that Reka has in her and the inner issues she has throughout the book.
The last thing I want to say is about the ending of this book – which absolutely gutted me… not going to even try to lie about it – I hated the ending, but it is good because it brought out the emotion I felt for the characters. I hated the ending of this book in the best way possible – it isn’t what I wanted to happen but … you know how that goes! I’m not the author – I don’t have a say – it is hated in the best possible way.
So you need to pick up a copy of this book, and once you read it come back and let me know what you think! It is a steal for only $2.99 – click below to buy at your preferred shopping site
Amazon
B&N
Smashwords
Until Next Time,
@jendsmit
July 23, 2012
This was very good out of the gate. I was immediately drawn into the world of Reka. Centuries ago, an alien race landed near a small village, and in exchange for peace and prosperity, a couple of people were chosen each year to host a "god". What a terrifying way to live, never knowing if it was your final year.
Of course Reka is chosen. I would think anything else would make for quite a boring story. The terror she feels is very real, and the whole process makes me a little ill. In a good way, I think? Something seems to go wrong with the transfer, and Reka is never fully taken over by the alien she is hosting. She has to "fake it to make it".
While I had a hard time putting this book down, I had some questions that I felt were never fully answered, and some topics that I feel could have been better explored. First, were the aliens the worms or did they merely transfer the aliens conciseness? There were also several mentions of something happening on their home planet that made it impossible for this group to go home, but that was also never explained further. It was also implied that they didn't always need to take hosts, or that not everyone needed to take a host ... I was a little confused on that. Basically what it all comes down to is I liked the story so much that I wanted (needed) more background information to turn like into love.
Of course Reka falls prey to Stockholm Syndrome, which I can totally get given her circumstances, and eventually falls in love. That developing relationship was my favorite part. This line may be a little cheesy, but I loved it anyway. Who doesn't love some cheese every now and then? Unless you are lactose intolerant maybe. :-p
"He drew in a deep breath, then let it out slowly. His breath curled around me in a seductive way that had me leaning back to find the source."
There were some challenges that needed to be overcome, but the main story was about Reka not being discovered. And food. EVERYTHING revolved around meals. They were always going to breakfast/lunch/dinner, talking about going to said meals, or trying to avoid meals. Though, with the set up of the ship, it is pretty much the only place everyone gets together.
And the end, while not totally out of the realm of possibilities, was definitely not what I saw coming. I won't say any more on that, out of fear that I may give something away.
Overall, this story is pretty great. There are some lulls, but I was always wanting to know what happened next.
*I would like to thank the author for providing a free e-copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
Of course Reka is chosen. I would think anything else would make for quite a boring story. The terror she feels is very real, and the whole process makes me a little ill. In a good way, I think? Something seems to go wrong with the transfer, and Reka is never fully taken over by the alien she is hosting. She has to "fake it to make it".
While I had a hard time putting this book down, I had some questions that I felt were never fully answered, and some topics that I feel could have been better explored. First, were the aliens the worms or did they merely transfer the aliens conciseness? There were also several mentions of something happening on their home planet that made it impossible for this group to go home, but that was also never explained further. It was also implied that they didn't always need to take hosts, or that not everyone needed to take a host ... I was a little confused on that. Basically what it all comes down to is I liked the story so much that I wanted (needed) more background information to turn like into love.
Of course Reka falls prey to Stockholm Syndrome, which I can totally get given her circumstances, and eventually falls in love. That developing relationship was my favorite part. This line may be a little cheesy, but I loved it anyway. Who doesn't love some cheese every now and then? Unless you are lactose intolerant maybe. :-p
"He drew in a deep breath, then let it out slowly. His breath curled around me in a seductive way that had me leaning back to find the source."
There were some challenges that needed to be overcome, but the main story was about Reka not being discovered. And food. EVERYTHING revolved around meals. They were always going to breakfast/lunch/dinner, talking about going to said meals, or trying to avoid meals. Though, with the set up of the ship, it is pretty much the only place everyone gets together.
And the end, while not totally out of the realm of possibilities, was definitely not what I saw coming. I won't say any more on that, out of fear that I may give something away.
Overall, this story is pretty great. There are some lulls, but I was always wanting to know what happened next.
*I would like to thank the author for providing a free e-copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
May 4, 2012
Title: Children of the Gods (A Chosen Novel)
Author: Monica Mallard
Rating: 5/5
A sincere thank you to Monica Mallard for offering this book for review via the Goodreads.com group the Nexus.
Summary: Reka a seventeen year old girl lived inside the City of the Gods. Everyone outside of the city thought they lived a perfect life never wanting for nothing, having all of their needs met. But they were so wrong inside the city they had no freedom, the one thing that they wanted the most. The gods told them what kind of music they could listen too, what foods they could eat. They lived a life of fear. At the next choosing, all at the right age were gathered. Reka was chosen, her world turned upside down.
Review: FIVE STARS! Spectacular read. Reka, aged seventeen, was chosen at the current choosing and thus becomes the Queen of the Gods at Jaxson’s side. The relationship between Jaxson and Reka was fun to watch unfold, was unique in its way, and of course had its own hurdles to ensure that much like every other relationship it was not smooth sailing all the time.
However, I did, despite my stellar rating find one thing a touch grating, we had no backwards knowledge into Reka and her “abilities.” They were just there, also what other “images” had she seen that we were not given privy to when Ayana had been bombarding her. I realize we saw some of the more potent ones, but what of the others? She had the essence/alien presence of someone who had been alive for close to a thousand years.
The ending did seem somewhat jumbled, and a touch rushed, but I did enjoy the ending. The ending made me cry, but there was still a note of happiness within the ending and that gives me hope for the future of this character. I do hope that Reka will be seen again in subsequent books (if there are any in the works) and that we will get a bit more insight into her background as she continues to develop.
If you have any questions, comments or recommendations you can contact me at simplicity.kindreth@gmail.com
My reviews can be found here:
Confessions of a Bibliophile
Idle Musings and Random Things
Smashwords
Author: Monica Mallard
Rating: 5/5
A sincere thank you to Monica Mallard for offering this book for review via the Goodreads.com group the Nexus.
Summary: Reka a seventeen year old girl lived inside the City of the Gods. Everyone outside of the city thought they lived a perfect life never wanting for nothing, having all of their needs met. But they were so wrong inside the city they had no freedom, the one thing that they wanted the most. The gods told them what kind of music they could listen too, what foods they could eat. They lived a life of fear. At the next choosing, all at the right age were gathered. Reka was chosen, her world turned upside down.
Review: FIVE STARS! Spectacular read. Reka, aged seventeen, was chosen at the current choosing and thus becomes the Queen of the Gods at Jaxson’s side. The relationship between Jaxson and Reka was fun to watch unfold, was unique in its way, and of course had its own hurdles to ensure that much like every other relationship it was not smooth sailing all the time.
However, I did, despite my stellar rating find one thing a touch grating, we had no backwards knowledge into Reka and her “abilities.” They were just there, also what other “images” had she seen that we were not given privy to when Ayana had been bombarding her. I realize we saw some of the more potent ones, but what of the others? She had the essence/alien presence of someone who had been alive for close to a thousand years.
The ending did seem somewhat jumbled, and a touch rushed, but I did enjoy the ending. The ending made me cry, but there was still a note of happiness within the ending and that gives me hope for the future of this character. I do hope that Reka will be seen again in subsequent books (if there are any in the works) and that we will get a bit more insight into her background as she continues to develop.
If you have any questions, comments or recommendations you can contact me at simplicity.kindreth@gmail.com
My reviews can be found here:
Confessions of a Bibliophile
Idle Musings and Random Things
Smashwords
May 26, 2012
Oh my goodness! I do NOT know where to begin. I absoultely LOVED this book! Nope, nope...this isn't a normal gushing...I DID!
It reminded me of The Host(Stephanie Meyers) meets Hunger Games (Suzanne Collins) at first!...then, it flowed into simply it's own telling...the writing was clear, almost poetic in tone...the story was full of such passion...wow...
Okay, back to the beginning...the story tells of Reka who lives in a society, where a group (Halorans) are in control. They are beneficiaries who helped Reka's people hundreds of years before and what they wanted in return...(besides adoration it appears) was that there will be one youth that will be taken(they were safe from being a Chosen at the age of nineteen) and when taken,they become the host for one of the Halorans...(a Kincha...a worm is placed inside of the young person, and the personailty of the Haloran will take over )so they cease to be...the Haloran will "wear" the host, until basically the body wears out and then it is time for a new one...
Reka is chosen, soon after she and one of the neighborhood boys...Niko..are close to discovering their love for the other...well, she is taking and becomes the host of the royal wife of the leader Jaxson...now Reka is different than most, having an ability like her mother, having a "power" that can bend anothers will...so when the Kincha is placed in her, she is stronger and she remains the dominate personality....
So the main tension in the story is whether Reka is able to "fool" the Halorans and keep them believing that she is the royal wife, so that she may protect her family that will recieve consquences... Reka is also unprepared for developing feelings for the hated Haloran leader Jaxon...
The story is told with such beauty and passion...On the day of choosing, Jaxson seems harsh and as negative as Reka's people see him...But after, he seems patient, extremely kind and attentive...
Shoot! I was falling in love with him while reading the story:) But I was also tense, wondering if this was an act, did he know? Was their some type of plan to put Reka at ease, then...something terrible happens! I was on edge the entire time, and then when Reka is faced with difficult choices to save her friend...I was even more nervous!
This was a real page turner, and I look forward to reading ,more of Ms. Millards works!
It reminded me of The Host(Stephanie Meyers) meets Hunger Games (Suzanne Collins) at first!...then, it flowed into simply it's own telling...the writing was clear, almost poetic in tone...the story was full of such passion...wow...
Okay, back to the beginning...the story tells of Reka who lives in a society, where a group (Halorans) are in control. They are beneficiaries who helped Reka's people hundreds of years before and what they wanted in return...(besides adoration it appears) was that there will be one youth that will be taken(they were safe from being a Chosen at the age of nineteen) and when taken,they become the host for one of the Halorans...(a Kincha...a worm is placed inside of the young person, and the personailty of the Haloran will take over )so they cease to be...the Haloran will "wear" the host, until basically the body wears out and then it is time for a new one...
Reka is chosen, soon after she and one of the neighborhood boys...Niko..are close to discovering their love for the other...well, she is taking and becomes the host of the royal wife of the leader Jaxson...now Reka is different than most, having an ability like her mother, having a "power" that can bend anothers will...so when the Kincha is placed in her, she is stronger and she remains the dominate personality....
So the main tension in the story is whether Reka is able to "fool" the Halorans and keep them believing that she is the royal wife, so that she may protect her family that will recieve consquences... Reka is also unprepared for developing feelings for the hated Haloran leader Jaxon...
The story is told with such beauty and passion...On the day of choosing, Jaxson seems harsh and as negative as Reka's people see him...But after, he seems patient, extremely kind and attentive...
Shoot! I was falling in love with him while reading the story:) But I was also tense, wondering if this was an act, did he know? Was their some type of plan to put Reka at ease, then...something terrible happens! I was on edge the entire time, and then when Reka is faced with difficult choices to save her friend...I was even more nervous!
This was a real page turner, and I look forward to reading ,more of Ms. Millards works!
July 1, 2012
Let me start off by saying I loved this book. Don't be fooled by my rating - although I actually consider 3.5 to be pretttty high - Children of the Gods is a beautifully written book that certainly made my heart ache.
I should be a little ashamed to say this, but the best part of this book for me was the romance <3 I started off disliking Jaxson, but gradually (and surprisingly!) Monica was able to warm up my heart with his personality (kudos to you!). The more intimate parts also bordered on mature for a YA novel, although I found most of it pretty sweet and romantic (hehe, teenage hormones). What also makes this novel stand out, however, is the relationships between Anaya, Jaxson, and Reka. It's amazingly complex - I'll admit at times I felt conflicted about their relationship. It was interesting to see some of Jaxson's thoughts regarding Reka, Anaya's part hate part dependent relationship with Jaxson, as well as Reya's conflicted feelings towards Jaxson and Nico, as well as her relationship with Anaya. Although at times I was confused, their relationships were my focus when I pondered and read this book, while sympathizing with all their troubles. My only complaint is that their wasn't much Nico in this story D: I realize that this is a fairly realistic situation, but I suppose I'm a drama llama, so I like conflict.
Reka's loyalty and personality also stands out to me. Her willingness to succumb to her situation is only for the good of her family and Nico, a group of people now having a much lower social status and probably would never see again. At the same time however, I found her decisions and personality realistic, which is another plus(:
And the ending - it was so heartbreaking. It held some surprises for me and made me tear up a little (': /butitwassoperfectasdfjadlkfjasdkf. Okay. Done fangirling.
Anyways, that's it for me! I hope you enjoyed my review & hopefully you'll check out Children of the Gods - it's an amazingly beautiful book (:
I should be a little ashamed to say this, but the best part of this book for me was the romance <3 I started off disliking Jaxson, but gradually (and surprisingly!) Monica was able to warm up my heart with his personality (kudos to you!). The more intimate parts also bordered on mature for a YA novel, although I found most of it pretty sweet and romantic (hehe, teenage hormones). What also makes this novel stand out, however, is the relationships between Anaya, Jaxson, and Reka. It's amazingly complex - I'll admit at times I felt conflicted about their relationship. It was interesting to see some of Jaxson's thoughts regarding Reka, Anaya's part hate part dependent relationship with Jaxson, as well as Reya's conflicted feelings towards Jaxson and Nico, as well as her relationship with Anaya. Although at times I was confused, their relationships were my focus when I pondered and read this book, while sympathizing with all their troubles. My only complaint is that their wasn't much Nico in this story D: I realize that this is a fairly realistic situation, but I suppose I'm a drama llama, so I like conflict.
Reka's loyalty and personality also stands out to me. Her willingness to succumb to her situation is only for the good of her family and Nico, a group of people now having a much lower social status and probably would never see again. At the same time however, I found her decisions and personality realistic, which is another plus(:
And the ending - it was so heartbreaking. It held some surprises for me and made me tear up a little (': /butitwassoperfectasdfjadlkfjasdkf. Okay. Done fangirling.
Anyways, that's it for me! I hope you enjoyed my review & hopefully you'll check out Children of the Gods - it's an amazingly beautiful book (:
April 26, 2012
On one level, Monica Millard's Children of the Gods tells the story about making the best of a situation when decisions are made beyond an individual's control. But it goes beyond that.
Though not wholly new to science fiction -- I've watched films and TV shows in this genre for years -- I am still a novice when it comes to reading it. At about 130 pages, the story is not dense and bogged down with too much science. Instead, it focused more on character development, which I enjoyed.
I was most intrigued by the motives between the warring races, and the main character's inner turmoil. The conflict worked. Like Reka, part of me liked her captors while the other remained skeptical wondering what they had in store for her at any time. Millard also effectively uses characters from Reka's past to keep the story moving.
For the most part, the pacing worked. The beginning and ending especially were fast-paced and action-filled. Some moments in the middle did drag for me a little - but never enough to make me lose my interest. I'm mixed on my thoughts about the romantic elements of the story. Part of me thinks Reka falls in love (I'm not saying with who) too quickly. But then again, I just said it was a fast-paced book. Plot has to happen fast. And even if it was a little rushed for my taste, it did not take away from the rest of the story.
From page one until the last page, I never knew quite what to expect, which kept me guessing. This was an interesting, fast read for a basic newbie like me. I was hooked from page one. Overall, reading it was an eye-opener for me. It makes me want to branch out and try more genres and styles of writing.
(originally published at www.change-the-word.blogspot.com)
Though not wholly new to science fiction -- I've watched films and TV shows in this genre for years -- I am still a novice when it comes to reading it. At about 130 pages, the story is not dense and bogged down with too much science. Instead, it focused more on character development, which I enjoyed.
I was most intrigued by the motives between the warring races, and the main character's inner turmoil. The conflict worked. Like Reka, part of me liked her captors while the other remained skeptical wondering what they had in store for her at any time. Millard also effectively uses characters from Reka's past to keep the story moving.
For the most part, the pacing worked. The beginning and ending especially were fast-paced and action-filled. Some moments in the middle did drag for me a little - but never enough to make me lose my interest. I'm mixed on my thoughts about the romantic elements of the story. Part of me thinks Reka falls in love (I'm not saying with who) too quickly. But then again, I just said it was a fast-paced book. Plot has to happen fast. And even if it was a little rushed for my taste, it did not take away from the rest of the story.
From page one until the last page, I never knew quite what to expect, which kept me guessing. This was an interesting, fast read for a basic newbie like me. I was hooked from page one. Overall, reading it was an eye-opener for me. It makes me want to branch out and try more genres and styles of writing.
(originally published at www.change-the-word.blogspot.com)
January 29, 2012
When I picked up this book, I wasn't really sure if I was going to like it. I do enjoy a wide array of genres but sci-fi is not usually one of them. I wanted to give it a try though so I dug right in.
I really, really enjoyed this book. I fell in love with Reka and Jaxson's relationship and was just hoping that they would be a real couple (well, as real as their kind can be). I was hoping that Jaxson would see Reka for who she is instead of just the host of his love. I really enjoyed watching their relationship bloom into something more than just two beings around each other into two beings who need each other. I loved seeing how Reka managed to get through her daily life as a host when there was so much deep inside wanting to get out. At the same time, I was truly sad that so much had to be hidden in order for her to be safe. I was aching for her to be able to come clean to Jaxson and Griff.
The ending was way beyond what I was expecting and I was a tad sad about it. That is the romantic in me though because I am always itching for the sweet, love-filled ending. I do think this ending was full of love and sweetness, just not the kind I was expecting. I really would love to see where this story goes after this ending!
I would recommend this for anyone who loves some sci-fi or fantasy readings but only if you are interested in romance as well because this book has plenty of it. There is no part of it that is too "adult" for a young-adult book though so don't be worried there.
I really, really enjoyed this book. I fell in love with Reka and Jaxson's relationship and was just hoping that they would be a real couple (well, as real as their kind can be). I was hoping that Jaxson would see Reka for who she is instead of just the host of his love. I really enjoyed watching their relationship bloom into something more than just two beings around each other into two beings who need each other. I loved seeing how Reka managed to get through her daily life as a host when there was so much deep inside wanting to get out. At the same time, I was truly sad that so much had to be hidden in order for her to be safe. I was aching for her to be able to come clean to Jaxson and Griff.
The ending was way beyond what I was expecting and I was a tad sad about it. That is the romantic in me though because I am always itching for the sweet, love-filled ending. I do think this ending was full of love and sweetness, just not the kind I was expecting. I really would love to see where this story goes after this ending!
I would recommend this for anyone who loves some sci-fi or fantasy readings but only if you are interested in romance as well because this book has plenty of it. There is no part of it that is too "adult" for a young-adult book though so don't be worried there.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 26, 2012
Let me start from the very beginning... literally. The cover is perfect! When I saw this blog tour posted on CLP Blog Tours I immediately joined it without even reading the synopsis, just based on the cover itself. I'm definitely a bit of a Cover Girl. :) This cover drew me right in!
I really enjoyed this story from beginning to end. It started off quickly and sucked me right in from page 1. I was totally engulfed in this other "world" that they lived in and was eagerly flipping pages on my ipad to see what Reka was going to do next. I quickly fell in love with her. Reka "did what she had to do" and didn't let anyone get in her way.
I can't say enough good about Children of the Gods. It is definitely one of those stories that are hard to describe without giving away too much, so consistent with my spoiler-free reviews policy I will just say this book is AWESOME! And the ending was completely unexpected, in my opinion, which is always something I enjoy. I'm anxious to see if there are more books in the works from Monica. (Well, Monica? *wink wink* Pretty please?)
Since my 5 star rating simply means "I absolutely loved it!" I had no problem at all giving it a full 5 stars. I do have to say there were a few spelling errors, but nothing major. It didn't take away from the story one bit.
I would definitely recommend this book to... well... everyone!! Don't miss out on this one!! :)
I really enjoyed this story from beginning to end. It started off quickly and sucked me right in from page 1. I was totally engulfed in this other "world" that they lived in and was eagerly flipping pages on my ipad to see what Reka was going to do next. I quickly fell in love with her. Reka "did what she had to do" and didn't let anyone get in her way.
I can't say enough good about Children of the Gods. It is definitely one of those stories that are hard to describe without giving away too much, so consistent with my spoiler-free reviews policy I will just say this book is AWESOME! And the ending was completely unexpected, in my opinion, which is always something I enjoy. I'm anxious to see if there are more books in the works from Monica. (Well, Monica? *wink wink* Pretty please?)
Since my 5 star rating simply means "I absolutely loved it!" I had no problem at all giving it a full 5 stars. I do have to say there were a few spelling errors, but nothing major. It didn't take away from the story one bit.
I would definitely recommend this book to... well... everyone!! Don't miss out on this one!! :)
May 17, 2012
Children of the Gods
By Monica Millard
Every twenty-thirty years the “Gods” come into the village where Reka lives to choose a new host body. Reka tries to blend into the crowd and prays she will not be chosen but unfortunately she is and not just to host any “God” but the queen. When they pull her into the ship that will soon become her home every part of Reka fights back but as they insert the queen into her body she fears it was all for nothing, that is until she wakes and realizes Anaya is the consciousness that lies in the background and she is still in control of herself.
This book starts off a bit slow, there isn’t much action in the entire thing it is a romance as Reka begins to fall in love with the man who is her king, Jaxson. The inner turmoil she must face is the main focus of the story and Monica Millard did a wonderful job the only thing I wish is that when she mentions the flashbacks that Anaya is showing Reka that she would go into more details some of them she just mentions that Anaya did it and moves on. If you are a fan of Stargate then you will love this book they are very similar in some aspects but then very different in others, it is an interesting book and I hope I will be able to read the next book since this one is left with a fantastic cliff hanger!
Be sure to visit my blogs at:
http://reflectionsofabookworm.wordpre...
http://bookwormrflects8.blogspot.com/
By Monica Millard
Every twenty-thirty years the “Gods” come into the village where Reka lives to choose a new host body. Reka tries to blend into the crowd and prays she will not be chosen but unfortunately she is and not just to host any “God” but the queen. When they pull her into the ship that will soon become her home every part of Reka fights back but as they insert the queen into her body she fears it was all for nothing, that is until she wakes and realizes Anaya is the consciousness that lies in the background and she is still in control of herself.
This book starts off a bit slow, there isn’t much action in the entire thing it is a romance as Reka begins to fall in love with the man who is her king, Jaxson. The inner turmoil she must face is the main focus of the story and Monica Millard did a wonderful job the only thing I wish is that when she mentions the flashbacks that Anaya is showing Reka that she would go into more details some of them she just mentions that Anaya did it and moves on. If you are a fan of Stargate then you will love this book they are very similar in some aspects but then very different in others, it is an interesting book and I hope I will be able to read the next book since this one is left with a fantastic cliff hanger!
Be sure to visit my blogs at:
http://reflectionsofabookworm.wordpre...
http://bookwormrflects8.blogspot.com/
January 2, 2013
I just want to say that I did really enjoy this book. I was engaged and wanted to keep turning pages. There were just a lot of questions left open for me. Normally I can read a book and not worry about the details of the how and why on the things that just "are" in a book. And for the most part, I could, but a couple of items, I just wanted to know more. Like what exactly is this Kincha thing and how did these "Gods" find them? Why doesn't the main God, Jaxson need a host like it seems all the others do?
I had a ton more questions while reading but a lot of them were answered (for the most part) in the end, although I am still not sure why Reka's power was so awesome? Why did Anaya want her? Why did she think Reka would be Jaxson's undoing? Also, I thought Reka accepted her situation a little too quickly, I understand why she did, for survival and all, but you would think she would be a little more bitter than she was. One more thing, I didn't like how she would "see" these memories but we wouldn't get to know them while she was seeing them, only later for the most part.
Well, whatever, I like it. i wasn't a huge fan of the ending but I like the cookie cutter ending for the most part. Sorry if that spoils it for anyone.
I had a ton more questions while reading but a lot of them were answered (for the most part) in the end, although I am still not sure why Reka's power was so awesome? Why did Anaya want her? Why did she think Reka would be Jaxson's undoing? Also, I thought Reka accepted her situation a little too quickly, I understand why she did, for survival and all, but you would think she would be a little more bitter than she was. One more thing, I didn't like how she would "see" these memories but we wouldn't get to know them while she was seeing them, only later for the most part.
Well, whatever, I like it. i wasn't a huge fan of the ending but I like the cookie cutter ending for the most part. Sorry if that spoils it for anyone.
June 30, 2012
I have only ever read another book like this and that would be "The Host" where a human is taken over by another life-form and this book is quite different. Reka is coming of age and her people have been selected to be chosen to supply their bodies as hosts for the Halorans who are an alien race. Reka is interested in Niko but he is now 19 and safe from the selection process. She is chosen to become the host for the Queen Anaya and she was worried she would lose all those she loved and also herself. To her amazement, she is the dominant one and the Queen is relegated to be the observer but does press her memories and feelings onto Reka and the most inopportune times. Reka is trying to pretend she is the Queen but is fast falling for Jaxon whose only real crime is that he is doing his duty as King and he wants to be loved just like everyone else. I did feel sorry for Anaya in the beginning but she made her life a prison when she could have had a different path if she had chosen to forgive. Reka finds herself caught in between two worlds and two lives and the ending will surprise you. This book felt like more of a love story and I was sad that the Reka chose to make the ultimate sacrifice yet the unexpected happens that will make her question everything.
May 6, 2012
I got a copy of Children of the Gods for review via the Goodreads.com group the Nexus. I would like to thank Monica Mallard for offering this book, I was really excited to read it when I got it. When I first started the book, it was a little confusing. I didn't know right away that I'd like this book but I kept reading and the more I read, the more interested in it I became. By the end of the book I didn't want it to end. I really liked Reka, the main character, she was a strong female who really just wanted to make the best of a bad situation. it was also fun to read how her and Jaxsons relationship grew.
I did have a few issues with the book. My first issue was you didn't really get to know Reka as herself before she had been "chosen". Not being able to understand her abilities and such. Another issue I with the book was the ending. it came out of nowhere and came on too fast and just everything happened all at once. It was rushed and I think it could have been better.
I did, however , love the read and if there was another Reka book, I would love to read it aswell. As a side note I also loved the cover art. :)
I did have a few issues with the book. My first issue was you didn't really get to know Reka as herself before she had been "chosen". Not being able to understand her abilities and such. Another issue I with the book was the ending. it came out of nowhere and came on too fast and just everything happened all at once. It was rushed and I think it could have been better.
I did, however , love the read and if there was another Reka book, I would love to read it aswell. As a side note I also loved the cover art. :)
May 16, 2012
Reka Cushing spent her whole life trying to be invisible, trying not to stand out and catch their attention, but all her hard work got thrown into the garbage the day she is chosen to be a vessel to one of the gods, all her fears and nightmares become true.
Her destiny is now that of many others, trapped in her own body as aliens that disguised themselves as gods take over, but what happens when things don't work as they should? Can she fool a ship full of aliens and play the part of their queen?
This is my first time reading a book that talks about body snatchers I found it fascinating and a good change of tune from what I'm used to reading.
This book slipped by, time just passes by while you enjoy this book, it is well written in a small amount of time I feel I bonded with the characters and didn't want this book to end.
Once you read this novel by Monica Millard I think you will crave for more of her work as I do now.
Her destiny is now that of many others, trapped in her own body as aliens that disguised themselves as gods take over, but what happens when things don't work as they should? Can she fool a ship full of aliens and play the part of their queen?
This is my first time reading a book that talks about body snatchers I found it fascinating and a good change of tune from what I'm used to reading.
This book slipped by, time just passes by while you enjoy this book, it is well written in a small amount of time I feel I bonded with the characters and didn't want this book to end.
Once you read this novel by Monica Millard I think you will crave for more of her work as I do now.
May 14, 2012
The story was different but kind reminded me of the movie “The Body Snatchers”, in a way. However I enjoyed it tremendously. Good plot and characters. A little on the sad side but the love Jaxson showed and the patience he had with Reka could not help but like him. The story is left with a small cliff hanger wondering what's going to happen with Reka, Jax or even Griff. I was lost as to the time frame that Reka was with Jaxson, at times it seemed like a few months had passed but other times it felt like years had gone by. It left me wondering but not enough to have prevented me from enjoying the story.
http://www.amazon.com/Children-Gods-C...
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/child...
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view...
http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/...
http://www.amazon.com/Children-Gods-C...
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/child...
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http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/...
October 29, 2013
I WON! Actual review pending a read of this final product.
This was a reread and my first read of the final version. There were several differences and a good bit of content added. The world that Monica created is very interesting and fun to read about. I've talked to her at several points about how the world itself works and mostly it comes through very well in the book.
My only real peeve is I am not a fan of the abruptness of the ending. It's very sudden! I feel it could have used a bit more description and explanation as it rushed headlong to its end.
Thanks for the chance to read this again!
This was a reread and my first read of the final version. There were several differences and a good bit of content added. The world that Monica created is very interesting and fun to read about. I've talked to her at several points about how the world itself works and mostly it comes through very well in the book.
My only real peeve is I am not a fan of the abruptness of the ending. It's very sudden! I feel it could have used a bit more description and explanation as it rushed headlong to its end.
Thanks for the chance to read this again!
April 30, 2012
Children of the gods was a nice read, the plot reminded me though of the series "Stargate SG-1"...and the scene with Daniel's wife...am I the only one? Maybe it is because I was a huge fan of this series^^
Back to the book, I don't really know what to say...I find it sometimes too cheesy but it is one of its charms though...I have mixed feelings about it actually as I did like reading it but it won't make it to my favourite shelf if you see what I mean
And my favorite quote in this book: "He loved you because you were just like him; making the best of a horrible situation. He
wanted to give you everything he never had."
Back to the book, I don't really know what to say...I find it sometimes too cheesy but it is one of its charms though...I have mixed feelings about it actually as I did like reading it but it won't make it to my favourite shelf if you see what I mean
And my favorite quote in this book: "He loved you because you were just like him; making the best of a horrible situation. He
wanted to give you everything he never had."
August 28, 2012
I really liked it the book.
I didn't rate it 5 stars because I wish for a different ending.
The world built was very interesting, but a bit complicated to understand. I should have read the prequel first, because it explains better the setting of the book.
It's a really emotional book, that made me feel all sort of different feelings. I went from sadness to happiness to anger to elation very fast while reading.
The female character is young but very mature. She's shown a great ability to deal with what life trows at her wisely. The male character is complicated. You will hate him sometimes and love him others. There are also two other majors characters that were very well developed.
I didn't rate it 5 stars because I wish for a different ending.
The world built was very interesting, but a bit complicated to understand. I should have read the prequel first, because it explains better the setting of the book.
It's a really emotional book, that made me feel all sort of different feelings. I went from sadness to happiness to anger to elation very fast while reading.
The female character is young but very mature. She's shown a great ability to deal with what life trows at her wisely. The male character is complicated. You will hate him sometimes and love him others. There are also two other majors characters that were very well developed.
March 5, 2012
Again I have mixed feelings about a book. Let me start positve: I absolutely loved the idea behind this book. A special race has control of a city an every year a human is choosen to be the host for one of those special people who are referred as Gods. Sounds great right? Well sadly the original plot is the only good thing in this book.
My biggest problem with this story is that it lacked explanation. It lacked world building, inner dialogue, character depth, explanation about how everything worked. To give some examples I didn't knew they lived in a space ship until almost the end of the book, when I hear ship I think of a huge boat on the water. I know stupid. I also didn't realize most of the plans and ideas of the lead characters until late in the book. This book felt like I was wandering about in the dark trying to find the light and understand where I was. And I feel sorry to say this but I just couldn't enjoy the book. There was so much missing.
The world that is introduced in this book sounds great, but except for the initial explanation we get from the lead character there is no more world building. Why is this race of gods in this planet? Where did they come from? What does the ship looks like (except from having purple walls)? What does the lead characters room looks like? what do the characters look like? What does the lead character think? why did she made some of the descisions she made? What about the other characters, why did she like some of them? How does she feel about her new life? I can go on with these kind of questions, but this is mainly to give an idea what was missing.
The characters are another point which I found lacking. It is first person view, but even at the end of the book the main character is still a huge mystery to me. We don't get to read much inner dialogue and I found it very difficult to understand why she did certain things and what she thought about everything that happened. I just couldn't connect with her or any other characters for that matter.
I also have to say something about the story line. Where the main plot was interesting most of the story felt like just filling up the book. It is a short book, only 117 pages but most of the book is spend seeing the main characters daily life. And well nothing really happens. I had no idea where the story was going, it seemed to go nowhere and then suddenly at the ending something drastic happens, without any explanation and then end of the book. This book left me confused and I believe it could have been so much better. The ideas are there, but it just isn't worked out enough.
To conclude I didn't like this book. I foudn it lacked world building and character building. We almost got no idea of who the characters are and the lead character just stays one big mystery to me. I did like the idea behind the story and I think it has a lot of potential, but the story falls short.
My biggest problem with this story is that it lacked explanation. It lacked world building, inner dialogue, character depth, explanation about how everything worked. To give some examples I didn't knew they lived in a space ship until almost the end of the book, when I hear ship I think of a huge boat on the water. I know stupid. I also didn't realize most of the plans and ideas of the lead characters until late in the book. This book felt like I was wandering about in the dark trying to find the light and understand where I was. And I feel sorry to say this but I just couldn't enjoy the book. There was so much missing.
The world that is introduced in this book sounds great, but except for the initial explanation we get from the lead character there is no more world building. Why is this race of gods in this planet? Where did they come from? What does the ship looks like (except from having purple walls)? What does the lead characters room looks like? what do the characters look like? What does the lead character think? why did she made some of the descisions she made? What about the other characters, why did she like some of them? How does she feel about her new life? I can go on with these kind of questions, but this is mainly to give an idea what was missing.
The characters are another point which I found lacking. It is first person view, but even at the end of the book the main character is still a huge mystery to me. We don't get to read much inner dialogue and I found it very difficult to understand why she did certain things and what she thought about everything that happened. I just couldn't connect with her or any other characters for that matter.
I also have to say something about the story line. Where the main plot was interesting most of the story felt like just filling up the book. It is a short book, only 117 pages but most of the book is spend seeing the main characters daily life. And well nothing really happens. I had no idea where the story was going, it seemed to go nowhere and then suddenly at the ending something drastic happens, without any explanation and then end of the book. This book left me confused and I believe it could have been so much better. The ideas are there, but it just isn't worked out enough.
To conclude I didn't like this book. I foudn it lacked world building and character building. We almost got no idea of who the characters are and the lead character just stays one big mystery to me. I did like the idea behind the story and I think it has a lot of potential, but the story falls short.
April 1, 2012
This book seems like such a cool idea! I picked it up because of the premise. I actually enjoyed the story but I also had some issues with it. First I will talk about the things that worked for me.
Children of the Gods has some really good characters! Reka is strong and compassionate. I appreciated the fact that she was trying to be a good person. The same goes for Jaxson. He really was a good person, and I really started to like him. I love that Reka is strong enough to try and fight off the alien inside of her but I wish I would have gotten to know her personality as herself a little first before I saw her thrust into this life. That way, I would have been able to tell if she stayed the same or if there were changes. As the story was told, I really only got to know Reka as "the chosen". And I liked who she was, I hope that was who she was before too.
One of the things I had an issue with was the pacing of the novel. It felt a bit choppy in parts and sometimes was not explained fully. I caught myself re-reading more than one part because I was really confused. Things came out of nowhere and kind of surprised me and threw me off balance. If you like the type of book that just keeps throwing curve balls at you, then you might really enjoy Children of the Gods. The curve balls just didn't always seem to fit within the story.
Reka seems like such a strong girl to me that I was a little shocked that she started to like Jaxson almost immediately. She starts out hating him and then boom, she is all about him. I mean, I do get it- Jaxson was really nice and clearly loved her so much, but it just seemed a little rushed to me.
The last issue I had with this book was the ending. Now maybe this was just because I was enjoying the story and it went to a place where I totally didn't want to see it go. The ending made me sad. But also, this book is called a chosen novel, which implies that there will be more than one of them. The way the book ended totally made me think that it would be a standalone novel. So i'm not really sure if there will be another book or not. Everything kind of wrapped up,so I would be really interested to see what the story would be about.
Overall, the premise behind Children of the Gods is really cool. I enjoyed the main storyline. I just had some problems with the execution of it. The writing is good and the characters are good, but the book is choppy and rushed in sections and then kind of just throws you off a cliff with the ending. I wish this book could have been a bit more than it was, but I still liked reading it.
2.5 stars
Children of the Gods has some really good characters! Reka is strong and compassionate. I appreciated the fact that she was trying to be a good person. The same goes for Jaxson. He really was a good person, and I really started to like him. I love that Reka is strong enough to try and fight off the alien inside of her but I wish I would have gotten to know her personality as herself a little first before I saw her thrust into this life. That way, I would have been able to tell if she stayed the same or if there were changes. As the story was told, I really only got to know Reka as "the chosen". And I liked who she was, I hope that was who she was before too.
One of the things I had an issue with was the pacing of the novel. It felt a bit choppy in parts and sometimes was not explained fully. I caught myself re-reading more than one part because I was really confused. Things came out of nowhere and kind of surprised me and threw me off balance. If you like the type of book that just keeps throwing curve balls at you, then you might really enjoy Children of the Gods. The curve balls just didn't always seem to fit within the story.
Reka seems like such a strong girl to me that I was a little shocked that she started to like Jaxson almost immediately. She starts out hating him and then boom, she is all about him. I mean, I do get it- Jaxson was really nice and clearly loved her so much, but it just seemed a little rushed to me.
The last issue I had with this book was the ending. Now maybe this was just because I was enjoying the story and it went to a place where I totally didn't want to see it go. The ending made me sad. But also, this book is called a chosen novel, which implies that there will be more than one of them. The way the book ended totally made me think that it would be a standalone novel. So i'm not really sure if there will be another book or not. Everything kind of wrapped up,so I would be really interested to see what the story would be about.
Overall, the premise behind Children of the Gods is really cool. I enjoyed the main storyline. I just had some problems with the execution of it. The writing is good and the characters are good, but the book is choppy and rushed in sections and then kind of just throws you off a cliff with the ending. I wish this book could have been a bit more than it was, but I still liked reading it.
2.5 stars
March 28, 2012
Meh, I'm not sure really what to think after reading this book. The premies reminded me a lot of The Host by Stephanie Meyer, but the execution was far below Meyer's novel.
The story started off interesting enough, but so many things and emotions started happening without any real explanation to what was going on. I was so confused in the beginning so as I continued on in the book, I didn't now what was going on half the time.
Reka would have been a really interesting character, but I didn't understand her character at all. What were her powers and her background? Also, her feelings for Jaxson appeared out of nowhere and there wasn't really any development in her love for the person who was responsible for her body being taken over by a worm-type alien.
I understand that the alien is still aware inside of her, but I feel like it should have been explained differently. The reader was left in the dark about a lot of stuff and things were explained as "Reka saw images..." and then it moved onto the next part of the plot/conversation. What were the images??? Details like that made the story seem too forced and fast instead of having time to develop and fill in the confusing parts of this entirely new world.
The ending seemed to come on too fast and it seemed as if the author wanted it to end, so she added a ton of stuff to happen out of nowhere so that the story could end. There was no build up to it and I was caught off guard by everything happening at once. This story held so much potential and was really a good idea, but the way it was put together and executed was lacking. I wish I could have liked this story more because it was really interesting! I just didn't have all that much fun reading it.
The story started off interesting enough, but so many things and emotions started happening without any real explanation to what was going on. I was so confused in the beginning so as I continued on in the book, I didn't now what was going on half the time.
Reka would have been a really interesting character, but I didn't understand her character at all. What were her powers and her background? Also, her feelings for Jaxson appeared out of nowhere and there wasn't really any development in her love for the person who was responsible for her body being taken over by a worm-type alien.
I understand that the alien is still aware inside of her, but I feel like it should have been explained differently. The reader was left in the dark about a lot of stuff and things were explained as "Reka saw images..." and then it moved onto the next part of the plot/conversation. What were the images??? Details like that made the story seem too forced and fast instead of having time to develop and fill in the confusing parts of this entirely new world.
The ending seemed to come on too fast and it seemed as if the author wanted it to end, so she added a ton of stuff to happen out of nowhere so that the story could end. There was no build up to it and I was caught off guard by everything happening at once. This story held so much potential and was really a good idea, but the way it was put together and executed was lacking. I wish I could have liked this story more because it was really interesting! I just didn't have all that much fun reading it.
August 12, 2012
4.25 Stars -- A perfect balance.
The synopsis is pretty accurate and hard to expound on without giving away the pertinent and wonderfully woven parts of the book. What can be said is the lyrical prose and manner of speaking felt perfect for these characters and this setting. Reka and Jaxson were drawn with the absolute correct balance of flaws and perfection to put yourself in their places. The secondary characters were ready as well for their close-ups because just as much care had gone into their creation. The story grabbed you from the outset and kept you engaged until the end. The only thing I didn’t like about this book was the length – I would’ve preferred a full length novel to the novelette version.
This fantasy world took me by surprise as I found myself in Reka’s mindset and her outlook was mine. I was even more surprised that while I too despised Jaxson (just like Reka), my feelings changed toward him just before hers did. The very delicate and intricate relationship that exists here between the Gods and their Children is full of political intrigue, maneuvering, backstabbing, unrequited love and it charms you into that world until you want more of it. I really enjoyed the semi-unexpected twist which I can only hope signals another great installment for this new series and quickly.
The synopsis is pretty accurate and hard to expound on without giving away the pertinent and wonderfully woven parts of the book. What can be said is the lyrical prose and manner of speaking felt perfect for these characters and this setting. Reka and Jaxson were drawn with the absolute correct balance of flaws and perfection to put yourself in their places. The secondary characters were ready as well for their close-ups because just as much care had gone into their creation. The story grabbed you from the outset and kept you engaged until the end. The only thing I didn’t like about this book was the length – I would’ve preferred a full length novel to the novelette version.
This fantasy world took me by surprise as I found myself in Reka’s mindset and her outlook was mine. I was even more surprised that while I too despised Jaxson (just like Reka), my feelings changed toward him just before hers did. The very delicate and intricate relationship that exists here between the Gods and their Children is full of political intrigue, maneuvering, backstabbing, unrequited love and it charms you into that world until you want more of it. I really enjoyed the semi-unexpected twist which I can only hope signals another great installment for this new series and quickly.
April 9, 2012
The YA/paranormal books have really been catching my eye lately, and I was so happy to host Monica Millard at CLP Blog Tours for her novel Children of the Gods. I thought this read was super unique – which might sound strange since I think that paranormal books are all pretty unique, but this one had a little something extra that kept me enticed. The book is actually classified as sci-fi, which I really enjoyed. I know sci-fi can get be confusing to some, and I will say that it took me a while to really understand what was happening. I think that maybe a more detailed synopsis could help readers when they start this book. The Halorans are an alien race that came to Earth posing as Gods, and they snatch the citizens to have them be host bodies. The story focuses around Reka, a seventeen year old who is chosen as a host, and the romance between her Jaxson. Once I got over the initial questions and trying to figure out the relationships, I was really into the book. I would definitely recommend Children of the Gods to those who enjoy sci-fi elements in their reading.
August 4, 2012
I battled with the rating on this book but have decided to give it five stars. The biggest reason why was that I was hooked from the start of the book, right through to the end. When I was finished I was actually emotionally drained a bit which to me is a sign of a great book. My emotions were fully engaged while reading this book, and that doesn't always happen with me.
The whole time that I was reading I was learning something new and kept wondering what was going to happen next. The author doesn't give everything away in the story until the very end and because of that I just could not stop reading! At times it was frustrating not fully knowing what was going on, and then at times it was so fulfilling to read about the love that grows between the two characters. I don't want to say much about the book itself because I dont' want to give anything away. The only diffucult part was the end...I am really hoping there is a second book, if there is I will be first in line to get it!
The whole time that I was reading I was learning something new and kept wondering what was going to happen next. The author doesn't give everything away in the story until the very end and because of that I just could not stop reading! At times it was frustrating not fully knowing what was going on, and then at times it was so fulfilling to read about the love that grows between the two characters. I don't want to say much about the book itself because I dont' want to give anything away. The only diffucult part was the end...I am really hoping there is a second book, if there is I will be first in line to get it!
March 17, 2013
This book both fascinated AND confused me. The storyline was interesting, but it left a lot of unanswered questions:
What happened to the Halorans' home planet? Why did some of them need a host, but not others? Why couldn't the people on Jaxson's ship go home? Why couldn't the people on the home planet be whole again unless Jaxson died?
It would've been more interesting AND less confusing if the connection between the Haloran, Osidian and Isturis' was explained in more detail. I would've given this book a higher rating if I could understand WHY the Haloran's were on Earth (I think?) to begin with. Like I said, the storyline was interesting, but didn't seem to be well thought out or explained. Also HOW was Reka/Anaya only finding out that she was pregnant and a few hours later was giving birth?????
What happened to the Halorans' home planet? Why did some of them need a host, but not others? Why couldn't the people on Jaxson's ship go home? Why couldn't the people on the home planet be whole again unless Jaxson died?
It would've been more interesting AND less confusing if the connection between the Haloran, Osidian and Isturis' was explained in more detail. I would've given this book a higher rating if I could understand WHY the Haloran's were on Earth (I think?) to begin with. Like I said, the storyline was interesting, but didn't seem to be well thought out or explained. Also HOW was Reka/Anaya only finding out that she was pregnant and a few hours later was giving birth?????
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