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Transcend
***OUT OF PRINT EDITION***
314 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2012
12 people are currently reading
2080 people want to read
About the author
Christine Fonseca
40 books390 followersChristine Fonseca is a bestselling author, licensed educational psychologist, and mentor for deep-feeling creatives. For more than three decades, she has guided artists, writers, and visionaries to embrace their emotional intensity, reclaim their creative fire, and cultivate a practice that is both sustainable and soulful.
Renowned for her pioneering work in emotional intensity, creative empowerment, and somatic writing, Christine dismantles the myth that sensitivity is weakness. Instead, she reveals it as a source of artistry, leadership, and transformation. Her voice is equal parts poetic and practical, timeless and magnetic — inviting readers into a deeper relationship with their art, their body, and themselves.
Christine’s books and teachings have touched audiences across the globe and been featured in Psychology Today, Parents.com, The Neurodiversity Podcast, and on international stages. She is the author of multiple bestselling works, including Nevertheless, Create: Art, Intensity, and the Practice of Showing Up; Write Through: Feeling Your Way to the Page; and Emotional Intensity in Gifted Students: Helping Kids Cope with Explosive Feelings
For more information, visit her website - www.christinefonseca.com
Renowned for her pioneering work in emotional intensity, creative empowerment, and somatic writing, Christine dismantles the myth that sensitivity is weakness. Instead, she reveals it as a source of artistry, leadership, and transformation. Her voice is equal parts poetic and practical, timeless and magnetic — inviting readers into a deeper relationship with their art, their body, and themselves.
Christine’s books and teachings have touched audiences across the globe and been featured in Psychology Today, Parents.com, The Neurodiversity Podcast, and on international stages. She is the author of multiple bestselling works, including Nevertheless, Create: Art, Intensity, and the Practice of Showing Up; Write Through: Feeling Your Way to the Page; and Emotional Intensity in Gifted Students: Helping Kids Cope with Explosive Feelings
For more information, visit her website - www.christinefonseca.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews
December 8, 2015
I am so excited to share this one with all of you! It is by far the hardest thing I've ever written. I've taken a different spin on a familiar tale, hopefully delivering something that will leave you surprised, satisfied and maybe a little creeped out!
August 23, 2012
Where do I begin? Or better still, how do I go about even trying to write a review for a book that is a masterpiece? It would be like trying to describe the feeling you would get standing under the glorious roof of the Sistine Chapel. There really are no words that would justify that. This is exactly how I am feeling now *takes deep breathe to calm my beating heart* I am floored. I am completely and utterly blown away and I really must say that this is pure artistry at it's best. Christine Fonseca is a brilliant writer, who has a poet's heart and an artist's soul. I am in love with her words that move me in more ways than one. Before I continue though, I really want to thank Christine for providing me with an ARC copy of Transcend in exchange for my honest review, and I am completely honoured to have been given this opportunity. As soon as I knew about this book I feverishly wanted it and low and behold, I was graced with it. Thank you.
Transcend really is a story filled with so much anguish and pain, and sorrow and torment I really was an emotional wreck reading it. Every word weaved so beautifully against the page, coming together and forming a story that dripped in melancholy. I could feel every emotion with every word, with every sentence. My heart ached and it soared. My stomach churned and it fluttered. My head hurt and it hummed. My blood boiled and it flowed, fuelling the fire that was coursing through my veins. I wasn't reading a story about a young seventeen-year-old composer named Ien Montgomery, who was in total despair. Living the life he did not want, according to his family's expectations. Giving up everything including the woman he loved, Keira, and his love for music. Instead, I was that young man, being tormented and tortured by the voices and visions consuming his mind and soul. Every moment he breathed, I exhaled. Every time he cried, my tears flowed. Everything he ever endured, I pained along with him. This is what reading Transcend does to you. It enters your heart and flows through your veins. It forges into your mind, tormenting and maddening. The real and the delusional, blurred beyond recognition.
The moment I read the last word I finally exhaled. I had held my breath the entire time and I am emotionally drained and exhausted, but rewarded in so many ways. Transcend is beautiful and lyrical, captivating and thrilling, dark and creepy, mysterious and intoxicating, alluring and seductive, and painful and tortured. Set against the New York's Gilded Age, you will be swept away by it's opulence and magnificence. It's a simple story of love, yet it is fuelled with vengeance and betrayal. You will be thrown into the depths of Ien's torment, he's own hell, and you will be desperately trying to claw your way out, hoping to drag him back with you. It is with this that I end this review. I'm hoping I have persuaded you all that this book is a MUST READ. Christine Fonseca has thrown her heart and soul into this book, and the evidence is noticeable. You will NOT be disappointed and it will be amongst your favourites forever. I know it will be on mine.
Transcend really is a story filled with so much anguish and pain, and sorrow and torment I really was an emotional wreck reading it. Every word weaved so beautifully against the page, coming together and forming a story that dripped in melancholy. I could feel every emotion with every word, with every sentence. My heart ached and it soared. My stomach churned and it fluttered. My head hurt and it hummed. My blood boiled and it flowed, fuelling the fire that was coursing through my veins. I wasn't reading a story about a young seventeen-year-old composer named Ien Montgomery, who was in total despair. Living the life he did not want, according to his family's expectations. Giving up everything including the woman he loved, Keira, and his love for music. Instead, I was that young man, being tormented and tortured by the voices and visions consuming his mind and soul. Every moment he breathed, I exhaled. Every time he cried, my tears flowed. Everything he ever endured, I pained along with him. This is what reading Transcend does to you. It enters your heart and flows through your veins. It forges into your mind, tormenting and maddening. The real and the delusional, blurred beyond recognition.
The moment I read the last word I finally exhaled. I had held my breath the entire time and I am emotionally drained and exhausted, but rewarded in so many ways. Transcend is beautiful and lyrical, captivating and thrilling, dark and creepy, mysterious and intoxicating, alluring and seductive, and painful and tortured. Set against the New York's Gilded Age, you will be swept away by it's opulence and magnificence. It's a simple story of love, yet it is fuelled with vengeance and betrayal. You will be thrown into the depths of Ien's torment, he's own hell, and you will be desperately trying to claw your way out, hoping to drag him back with you. It is with this that I end this review. I'm hoping I have persuaded you all that this book is a MUST READ. Christine Fonseca has thrown her heart and soul into this book, and the evidence is noticeable. You will NOT be disappointed and it will be amongst your favourites forever. I know it will be on mine.
September 18, 2012
I honestly don’t know where to begin, I knew when I finished reading it over a week ago that this was going to be a hard review to write, and I was right, I’m still somewhat overwhelmed. Just thinking about Ien makes me go:
I know I had been eagerly waiting to read this book for months, and though I’m not completely sure just what I expected, I’m so very happy to say that I was not disappointed, not in the slightest. Not even a little bit.
I fell in love with the cover instantly, and after reading the description all I knew was that I had to read it. And then I won a signed copy (thank you Christine!) and there was no stopping my eagerness. Seriously, I think I scared my sister to death when I found out, I was like this:
I still am…
And now to the review!
Transcend follows Ien in the aftermaths of his tragedy. Before it he's just a seventeen-year-old boy, in love with a girl his mother didn’t approve of, in love with a girl he would do anything for, even go against his family’s wishes.
Ien wanted to spend the rest of his life with her, and he had a plan to make that happen, one that would force his family to accept her or let him go. After following his mother’s every wish all his life, he knew there was one thing she couldn’t take from him, one thing he would not let go of. Kiera.
But things don’t always go as planned.
A horrible accident gets in the way. His face now disfigured, Ien is hunted by the demons of his past and his need to have Kiera back in his life. Feared by those closest to him, and inspiring disgust in all those who see his face, Ien is isolated, and without Kiera by his side he can’t keep the voices at bay.
Sent to die in a sanatorium, Ien needs to find a way out. A way back to the love of his life, to his Kiera.
But just how far will you go for the one you love?
It was torturous having to read chapter after chapter of Ien’s sorrow and pain. I left like they were my own. Ien was in so much pain and anguish and despair that I couldn’t help but feel it too. Christine did a great job of portraying all these emotions.
As Transcend progresses so does Ien’s obsession with Kiera. His need for her, his need to have her accept him for what he’d become –and fear that she wouldn’t –was taking over him. He couldn’t tell reality from illusion, he was driven by his thirst for revenge. Who is to blame? Who took Kiera from him? Who did this to him?
As you read on it becomes clear that he had problem since he was still very young. His insanity was always there, lurking. Always there, like a hunter after its pray, waiting for the moment to strike. The accident was that moment, and losing Kiera was just the straw that drove him over the edge.
The horrors that Ien goes through, before and after the accident, were just too much for his mind to take. He was abused in all forms possible. It was heartbreaking. It was disarming to read.
Transcend is filled with so many twists and turns my head was spinning and my heart was shattering. And since most of the book is told from Ien’s point of view, you can’t really tell what’s real and what’s part of his delusions. I felt I was going a little crazy with him.
More often than now I was left wide eyed and gasping. I’m telling you, you’re going to be surprised, greatly surprised.
Transcend is intense and raw and dark. It will pull you it and not let you go until you know what really is true. Transcend will play tricks with your mind, it will make you feel for this character to the point it hurts, it will make you angry with those who were supposed to be helping him, but weren’t. It will have you guessing until the very end. And longing for more.
For this and more reviews visit my blog.
I know I had been eagerly waiting to read this book for months, and though I’m not completely sure just what I expected, I’m so very happy to say that I was not disappointed, not in the slightest. Not even a little bit.
I fell in love with the cover instantly, and after reading the description all I knew was that I had to read it. And then I won a signed copy (thank you Christine!) and there was no stopping my eagerness. Seriously, I think I scared my sister to death when I found out, I was like this:
I still am…
And now to the review!
"I'm more than the flesh and bone that defines me. More than the pain that consumes me and the madness radiating through me. I am a man. And I am still alive..."
Transcend follows Ien in the aftermaths of his tragedy. Before it he's just a seventeen-year-old boy, in love with a girl his mother didn’t approve of, in love with a girl he would do anything for, even go against his family’s wishes.
Ien wanted to spend the rest of his life with her, and he had a plan to make that happen, one that would force his family to accept her or let him go. After following his mother’s every wish all his life, he knew there was one thing she couldn’t take from him, one thing he would not let go of. Kiera.
But things don’t always go as planned.
A horrible accident gets in the way. His face now disfigured, Ien is hunted by the demons of his past and his need to have Kiera back in his life. Feared by those closest to him, and inspiring disgust in all those who see his face, Ien is isolated, and without Kiera by his side he can’t keep the voices at bay.
Sent to die in a sanatorium, Ien needs to find a way out. A way back to the love of his life, to his Kiera.
But just how far will you go for the one you love?
“Forever. He carved the word into his soul. Kiera was his forever, deformity or no deformity.”
It was torturous having to read chapter after chapter of Ien’s sorrow and pain. I left like they were my own. Ien was in so much pain and anguish and despair that I couldn’t help but feel it too. Christine did a great job of portraying all these emotions.
As Transcend progresses so does Ien’s obsession with Kiera. His need for her, his need to have her accept him for what he’d become –and fear that she wouldn’t –was taking over him. He couldn’t tell reality from illusion, he was driven by his thirst for revenge. Who is to blame? Who took Kiera from him? Who did this to him?
As you read on it becomes clear that he had problem since he was still very young. His insanity was always there, lurking. Always there, like a hunter after its pray, waiting for the moment to strike. The accident was that moment, and losing Kiera was just the straw that drove him over the edge.
The horrors that Ien goes through, before and after the accident, were just too much for his mind to take. He was abused in all forms possible. It was heartbreaking. It was disarming to read.
Transcend is filled with so many twists and turns my head was spinning and my heart was shattering. And since most of the book is told from Ien’s point of view, you can’t really tell what’s real and what’s part of his delusions. I felt I was going a little crazy with him.
More often than now I was left wide eyed and gasping. I’m telling you, you’re going to be surprised, greatly surprised.
Transcend is intense and raw and dark. It will pull you it and not let you go until you know what really is true. Transcend will play tricks with your mind, it will make you feel for this character to the point it hurts, it will make you angry with those who were supposed to be helping him, but weren’t. It will have you guessing until the very end. And longing for more.
"Go convince Kiera that you haven't changed. Show her that your face does not define you."
But it does.
For this and more reviews visit my blog.
September 20, 2012
This review is also available on my blog, Qwerty
The pre-review I love so much is in the spoiler tag at the bottom of this review.
Easy 5-stars, folks...easy 5-stars. This book is literally a drug.
For start, I read Dies Irae and Lacrimosa, two of Christine's other works and did like them. But I felt that sometimes the narration was too grandiose. But that kind of narration on Transcend...
...fits perfectly. Probably because I'd say that this is more of a historical fiction than a young adult.
Okay, come on...I always love retellings. I always lovepsychotic serial killers who don't know they're insane dynamic, flawed main characters. So when I first heard that Transcend is inspired by Gerald Butler
err...I mean, Phantom of The Opera, I was psyched! And the cover is the best one among Christine's books so far, but I just wish it had better title font :(
Things I like;
1. Every chapter starts with an except from a famous book or poem. I find this very effective in setting the tone of that particular chapter.
2. Plotwise..it..err...takes you round and round in the circle. The keyword here is 'delusions'. So, don't expect a fast-paced or bone-chilling thiller! :) But I really like it, plotwise! I like being in Ien's head! :D
3. It's rare for me to like and enjoy a story that doesn't have many dialogues but Transcend did it for me.
4. Ien.
Wow! The character building is remarkable. The depth of his emotions is portrayed in such a way that I think only a psychologist could! Haha. Other characters are very secondary and I think it's a wise decision because Ien needs that focus, that attention, otherwise, I don't think I could be as attached to him as I am right now.
5. My favourite quotes? Lemme see, it's from..uh...page 1 to page 451. That's all.
6. The ending.
Things I didn't like
.
.
.
.
.
Hmph, I give up. I couldn't find any.
Wait! Probably only one. I'm still confused with the switch from first person narration to the third person narration, I think I need to re-read this in order to undertand the significance.
The pre-review I love so much is in the spoiler tag at the bottom of this review.
Easy 5-stars, folks...easy 5-stars. This book is literally a drug.
For start, I read Dies Irae and Lacrimosa, two of Christine's other works and did like them. But I felt that sometimes the narration was too grandiose. But that kind of narration on Transcend...
...fits perfectly. Probably because I'd say that this is more of a historical fiction than a young adult.
Okay, come on...I always love retellings. I always love
err...I mean, Phantom of The Opera, I was psyched! And the cover is the best one among Christine's books so far, but I just wish it had better title font :(
Things I like;
1. Every chapter starts with an except from a famous book or poem. I find this very effective in setting the tone of that particular chapter.
2. Plotwise..it..err...takes you round and round in the circle. The keyword here is 'delusions'. So, don't expect a fast-paced or bone-chilling thiller! :) But I really like it, plotwise! I like being in Ien's head! :D
3. It's rare for me to like and enjoy a story that doesn't have many dialogues but Transcend did it for me.
4. Ien.
Wow! The character building is remarkable. The depth of his emotions is portrayed in such a way that I think only a psychologist could! Haha. Other characters are very secondary and I think it's a wise decision because Ien needs that focus, that attention, otherwise, I don't think I could be as attached to him as I am right now.
5. My favourite quotes? Lemme see, it's from..uh...page 1 to page 451. That's all.
6. The ending.
Things I didn't like
.
.
.
.
.
Hmph, I give up. I couldn't find any.
Wait! Probably only one. I'm still confused with the switch from first person narration to the third person narration, I think I need to re-read this in order to undertand the significance.
July 17, 2012
I am at a loss of words as to how much I love this story. This is so powerful, so deep, and dark. It took me on an amazing journey into places most people fear to go, pulling me along, leaving me breathless. Not for the faint of heart. Black Swan meets Phantom of the Opera in this breathtaking, psychological thriller. I cannot recommend it highly enough.
September 24, 2014
I would like to thank the author, Christine Fonseca, for providing me with an ARC copy of this book to read and give an honest review. I am honored that she trusted me to read and review this totally different and new story.
Blurb from Goodreads:
All seventeen-year-old composer Ien Montgomery desires is an escape from his family's rigid expectations for his life; someone to inspire his music. When he meets a beautiful violin-prodigy, Kiera McDougal, his life music takes on new life. With her, he imagines a future outside of his parents’ control. That is, until a horrible accident tears them apart.
Sent to die in a sanatorium, Ien’s obsession for Kiera grows unbearable. Tortured by thoughts he can’t escape and the truth of his monstrous disfigurement, he flees, desperate to exact revenge on the people that ruined his life – his parents. But, vengeance is empty. Betrayed by those closest to him, Ien discovers that the price for his happiness may be his sanity.
Set amidst the landscape of New York's Gilded Age, and inspired by Phantom of the Opera, TRANSCEND exposes the fine line between love and madness.
Wow, I'm not even sure where to start with this book. First, I would like to say that it is haunting, disturbing, beautiful, poetic, lyrical, mysterious, dark, creepy and sad. It produced in me such a range of emotions, I wasn't sure if I was coming or going. I was surprised to find that I did not cry when reading it, as I thought for sure the sadness brought about by the main character's struggle would have surely thrown me over the edge. I have never read anything like this before. It is completely different from books in the YA Genre that are out there today. It is totally set apart from every other psychological thriller you can possibly think of. I could not put this book down and was unhappy when I had to! I just had to know what was going to happen next; where Ien would take us down his twisted road. If you are a fan of Phantom of the Opera, you will absolutely love this book and you must listen to the soundtrack while you read this piece of art. If you like to read Edgar Allen Poe, then this book will take you down his same twisted, curving roads. It is such a powerful and deep story it will leave you completely breathless.
Ien is such a tortured soul. There is no way not to feel sorry for this man. His reality is so totally discombobulated, it's hard to tell where his reality ends and his fantasy begins. Throughout the book I found it hard not to feel sorry for him and was routing for him to have everything he ever wanted: his music, his life with Kiera, the love of his family and friends. And yet, he was so sick, I just wanted him to get the help he needed so he would not think to hurt another soul. His entire life is consumed by his love for a woman with whom he finds a connection through music. You believe every word he says, every thought he has throughout the novel. And yet, things are never truly what they seem with him. He is completely fractured and my heart ached for him the entire story.
James is his best friend, wanting only the best for him, knowing he needs to help him. Kiera is the woman he loves. The woman he connects with through music. Jenna is his loyal friend, who also happens to be a servant for his wealthy family. His mother and father are tethered to their ideas of what it means to be known in high society, and they expect their children to act as such. And his brother Erik is someone with whom Ien has a push and pull relationship. All these characters play crucial roles in shaping Ien and his reality versus fantasy.
One of the most interesting parts of this story was how it was told from differing points of view. But not differing points of view of different characters, which was a total twist for me. Some chapters are written directly from Ien's point of view, delving into his thoughts and emotions so deeply, you wrapped beyond anything you could ever imagine. The other point of view is a third person narration point of view. Bringing the reader outside of any character's mind so that you are literally hovering above everything is is happening in each and every scene.
I love Christine's writing. She is a true artist with her words. As with her other novels, she completely captures you with her written word. And you do not want to be let go. I was entrapped in the writing, drawn into the book as it surrounded me with it's scenes, making me feel like I was right there with the characters.
Thank you, Christine, for trusting me to read and review this fabulously different novel. I don't think anyone who reads this will be disappointed in the least! Christine stepped outside the paranormal world and provided us with insight into the world of someone who has fallen into a crack in their own reality.
5 stars!!!
This review is also posted here:
http://thecovercontessa.blogspot.com
http://www.librarything.com/addbooks
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/trans...
http://www.amazon.com/Transcend-ebook...
Blurb from Goodreads:
All seventeen-year-old composer Ien Montgomery desires is an escape from his family's rigid expectations for his life; someone to inspire his music. When he meets a beautiful violin-prodigy, Kiera McDougal, his life music takes on new life. With her, he imagines a future outside of his parents’ control. That is, until a horrible accident tears them apart.
Sent to die in a sanatorium, Ien’s obsession for Kiera grows unbearable. Tortured by thoughts he can’t escape and the truth of his monstrous disfigurement, he flees, desperate to exact revenge on the people that ruined his life – his parents. But, vengeance is empty. Betrayed by those closest to him, Ien discovers that the price for his happiness may be his sanity.
Set amidst the landscape of New York's Gilded Age, and inspired by Phantom of the Opera, TRANSCEND exposes the fine line between love and madness.
Wow, I'm not even sure where to start with this book. First, I would like to say that it is haunting, disturbing, beautiful, poetic, lyrical, mysterious, dark, creepy and sad. It produced in me such a range of emotions, I wasn't sure if I was coming or going. I was surprised to find that I did not cry when reading it, as I thought for sure the sadness brought about by the main character's struggle would have surely thrown me over the edge. I have never read anything like this before. It is completely different from books in the YA Genre that are out there today. It is totally set apart from every other psychological thriller you can possibly think of. I could not put this book down and was unhappy when I had to! I just had to know what was going to happen next; where Ien would take us down his twisted road. If you are a fan of Phantom of the Opera, you will absolutely love this book and you must listen to the soundtrack while you read this piece of art. If you like to read Edgar Allen Poe, then this book will take you down his same twisted, curving roads. It is such a powerful and deep story it will leave you completely breathless.
Ien is such a tortured soul. There is no way not to feel sorry for this man. His reality is so totally discombobulated, it's hard to tell where his reality ends and his fantasy begins. Throughout the book I found it hard not to feel sorry for him and was routing for him to have everything he ever wanted: his music, his life with Kiera, the love of his family and friends. And yet, he was so sick, I just wanted him to get the help he needed so he would not think to hurt another soul. His entire life is consumed by his love for a woman with whom he finds a connection through music. You believe every word he says, every thought he has throughout the novel. And yet, things are never truly what they seem with him. He is completely fractured and my heart ached for him the entire story.
James is his best friend, wanting only the best for him, knowing he needs to help him. Kiera is the woman he loves. The woman he connects with through music. Jenna is his loyal friend, who also happens to be a servant for his wealthy family. His mother and father are tethered to their ideas of what it means to be known in high society, and they expect their children to act as such. And his brother Erik is someone with whom Ien has a push and pull relationship. All these characters play crucial roles in shaping Ien and his reality versus fantasy.
One of the most interesting parts of this story was how it was told from differing points of view. But not differing points of view of different characters, which was a total twist for me. Some chapters are written directly from Ien's point of view, delving into his thoughts and emotions so deeply, you wrapped beyond anything you could ever imagine. The other point of view is a third person narration point of view. Bringing the reader outside of any character's mind so that you are literally hovering above everything is is happening in each and every scene.
I love Christine's writing. She is a true artist with her words. As with her other novels, she completely captures you with her written word. And you do not want to be let go. I was entrapped in the writing, drawn into the book as it surrounded me with it's scenes, making me feel like I was right there with the characters.
Thank you, Christine, for trusting me to read and review this fabulously different novel. I don't think anyone who reads this will be disappointed in the least! Christine stepped outside the paranormal world and provided us with insight into the world of someone who has fallen into a crack in their own reality.
5 stars!!!
This review is also posted here:
http://thecovercontessa.blogspot.com
http://www.librarything.com/addbooks
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/trans...
http://www.amazon.com/Transcend-ebook...
September 11, 2012
I was warned before reading Transcend that it was not going to be easy on the emotions, and wow was that the truth!! This story was such a creepy, heart-wrenching, unforgiving tale of torment. It grips you from the very first page and never lets go, planting a seed in your mind that slowly drives you to the brink of madness. Bravo to Christine Fonseca for this outstanding work, and for absolutely taking me by surprise and flooring me with a story so compelling that it's guaranteed to captivate any reader!
Transcend hits you with a knock-out punch to the heart from the very start, with a broken Ien writing a beautiful love letter to his Kiera. He was so full of hurt and anguish, and I knew right then I was in for a story that would rip my heart out!! It seemed like at first his love for her was muddled in with his hatred for his mother's overbearing control of his life. She had her mind set on what he would do and be in life, what kind of woman he would marry...but he had grown tired of the lack of freedom in his life. When he proposes to Kiera and they share a sweet moment, it was clear that his feelings for her ran much deeper than a simple rebellion. It was a sweet, tender moment before all hell broke loose after the accident, and he relives that moment over and over again in his head, grasping at that one glint of happiness in his otherwise strained past.
Ien was left so disfigured that even those he loved were sickened by it; he was sent away to die in a sanatorium, his parents pretending that he had died because they were too ashamed to have him a part of their lives anymore. The only one who could bear to be near him was Jenna, the one who cared for him no matter what- whether whole or broken, handsome or scarred. The pain and torture he goes through after the accident was so upsetting to read, and to watch him have to endure the life he once had go on around him was just awful. I wanted so badly for him to turn to somehow find peace with Jenna instead of his obsession with Kiera, but as he slowly slipped further and further into madness it seemed like there was no good left for him anyway. It was truly heartbreaking.
I went through an Edgar Allen Poe kick when I was in highschool, and this story gave me the same goose bump-enducing chills I got back in the day!! There was this feeling of foreboding and madness throughout the whole story, and it left a knot in my stomach as Ien grew more and more desperate. The only thing that drives him is making his mother pay and winning back Kiera's heart, and he's so blinded by this that he pushes everything else out of his mind. He doesn't know who to trust, what to believe, or what is truly real, and you can't help but get sucked right into his despair with him. When everything finally began to unfold and Ien's madness was unleashed, it was like a whirling torrent of insanity, heartbreak, and anger that I couldn't tear myself away from. This was such an intense and beautifully-written story, and I just loved the wild, poetic ride that Christine Fonseca created!! Five enthusiastic stars for this amazing work of art!
Transcend hits you with a knock-out punch to the heart from the very start, with a broken Ien writing a beautiful love letter to his Kiera. He was so full of hurt and anguish, and I knew right then I was in for a story that would rip my heart out!! It seemed like at first his love for her was muddled in with his hatred for his mother's overbearing control of his life. She had her mind set on what he would do and be in life, what kind of woman he would marry...but he had grown tired of the lack of freedom in his life. When he proposes to Kiera and they share a sweet moment, it was clear that his feelings for her ran much deeper than a simple rebellion. It was a sweet, tender moment before all hell broke loose after the accident, and he relives that moment over and over again in his head, grasping at that one glint of happiness in his otherwise strained past.
Ien was left so disfigured that even those he loved were sickened by it; he was sent away to die in a sanatorium, his parents pretending that he had died because they were too ashamed to have him a part of their lives anymore. The only one who could bear to be near him was Jenna, the one who cared for him no matter what- whether whole or broken, handsome or scarred. The pain and torture he goes through after the accident was so upsetting to read, and to watch him have to endure the life he once had go on around him was just awful. I wanted so badly for him to turn to somehow find peace with Jenna instead of his obsession with Kiera, but as he slowly slipped further and further into madness it seemed like there was no good left for him anyway. It was truly heartbreaking.
I went through an Edgar Allen Poe kick when I was in highschool, and this story gave me the same goose bump-enducing chills I got back in the day!! There was this feeling of foreboding and madness throughout the whole story, and it left a knot in my stomach as Ien grew more and more desperate. The only thing that drives him is making his mother pay and winning back Kiera's heart, and he's so blinded by this that he pushes everything else out of his mind. He doesn't know who to trust, what to believe, or what is truly real, and you can't help but get sucked right into his despair with him. When everything finally began to unfold and Ien's madness was unleashed, it was like a whirling torrent of insanity, heartbreak, and anger that I couldn't tear myself away from. This was such an intense and beautifully-written story, and I just loved the wild, poetic ride that Christine Fonseca created!! Five enthusiastic stars for this amazing work of art!
January 7, 2013
I won this book from the Author, Christine Fonseca in her Transcend giveaway a few months ago and had been anxiously awaiting its arrival. When I saw the email from Christine yesterday afternoon I was almost giddy and started it right away.
The Goodreads summary describes Transcend as:
All seventeen-year-old composer Ien Montgomery desires is an escape from his family's rigid expectations for his life; someone to inspire his music. When he meets a beautiful violin-prodigy, Kiera McDougal, his life music takes on new life. With her, he imagines a future outside of his parents’ control. That is, until a horrible accident tears them apart.
Sent to die in a sanatorium, Ien’s obsession for Kiera grows unbearable. Tortured by thoughts he can’t escape and the truth of his monstrous disfigurement, he flees, desperate to exact revenge on the people that ruined his life – his parents. But, vengeance is empty. Betrayed by those closest to him, Ien discovers that the price for his happiness may be his sanity.
My thoughts:
First, the writing is superb as usual. I adored Christine's other three books in the Lacrimosa series which was dark in places but nowhere as deep as Transcend. She has a way of setting scenes with words so that one feels like they are there in that world looking over the shoulder of the main character. It's just amazing. I wish *I* had the words to describe it..
I was drawn in to Ien from the beginning because he feels everything on such a deep level. His friendship for his best friend James, his loyalty to Jenna, his childhood confidant, his love/hate relationship with his parents, the competition with his older brother Erik, and his devotion and obsession with Kiera, the woman who stole his heart. He is such a tortured soul, yet one cannot help sympathizing and even rooting for things to turn out okay in the end for him in spite of some of his actions.
At first, I wasn't sure what to think after I finished. I sat stunned, a few tears trickling down my cheeks. My mind whirled, trying to connect the fragments that had been left throughout the book,almost like breadcrumbs. Then after I went over all the events in my mind and tore myself away from Ien's point of view, it all became very clear. I ended up ruminating on Ien's life the rest of the afternoon after I completed the book, which is rare for me.
I love books that make me think, and also ones where you are so sure what is happening but then..BOOM,it's something else. Transcend was both of those for me. I almost feel bad saying I enjoyed or loved this book because of the subject matter, but I will say, Ien wormed his way into my heart, and there he will stay.
I wish I had the right words to show how engrossing I found Transcend. Thank you Christine for writing such a thought-provoking and emotionally heart wrenching book. I haven't felt this way after reading in quite a while!
The Goodreads summary describes Transcend as:
All seventeen-year-old composer Ien Montgomery desires is an escape from his family's rigid expectations for his life; someone to inspire his music. When he meets a beautiful violin-prodigy, Kiera McDougal, his life music takes on new life. With her, he imagines a future outside of his parents’ control. That is, until a horrible accident tears them apart.
Sent to die in a sanatorium, Ien’s obsession for Kiera grows unbearable. Tortured by thoughts he can’t escape and the truth of his monstrous disfigurement, he flees, desperate to exact revenge on the people that ruined his life – his parents. But, vengeance is empty. Betrayed by those closest to him, Ien discovers that the price for his happiness may be his sanity.
My thoughts:
First, the writing is superb as usual. I adored Christine's other three books in the Lacrimosa series which was dark in places but nowhere as deep as Transcend. She has a way of setting scenes with words so that one feels like they are there in that world looking over the shoulder of the main character. It's just amazing. I wish *I* had the words to describe it..
I was drawn in to Ien from the beginning because he feels everything on such a deep level. His friendship for his best friend James, his loyalty to Jenna, his childhood confidant, his love/hate relationship with his parents, the competition with his older brother Erik, and his devotion and obsession with Kiera, the woman who stole his heart. He is such a tortured soul, yet one cannot help sympathizing and even rooting for things to turn out okay in the end for him in spite of some of his actions.
At first, I wasn't sure what to think after I finished. I sat stunned, a few tears trickling down my cheeks. My mind whirled, trying to connect the fragments that had been left throughout the book,almost like breadcrumbs. Then after I went over all the events in my mind and tore myself away from Ien's point of view, it all became very clear. I ended up ruminating on Ien's life the rest of the afternoon after I completed the book, which is rare for me.
I love books that make me think, and also ones where you are so sure what is happening but then..BOOM,it's something else. Transcend was both of those for me. I almost feel bad saying I enjoyed or loved this book because of the subject matter, but I will say, Ien wormed his way into my heart, and there he will stay.
I wish I had the right words to show how engrossing I found Transcend. Thank you Christine for writing such a thought-provoking and emotionally heart wrenching book. I haven't felt this way after reading in quite a while!
Read
November 26, 2012Omg too overwhelmed by this book Damm how am I supposed to start another book after this ;(
Firstly i would like to thank the amazing and gifted author Christine Fonseca for giving me the honour of reading and reviewing this phenomenal book.
This books was nothing like i expected, and it was like nothing i have ever read and i loved it so much there are so many words i can use to describe this book WOW, MASTERPIECE, SUPEREB, WORK OF ART, ONE OF A KIND, those type of words come to mind.
I loved Christines writing when i read Lacrimosa but damm this one was on a whole other level. The writing is amazing, insperational, poetic. Christine is a born writer born poet.
This book bought tears to my eyes, it made my heart do twists and turns, there is so much torment, pain, suffering, loss, my heart was breaking. It bought so much emotion in me.
Ien Montgomery is a 17year old composer, who wants nothing more than to escape his families high expectations. He falls deeply in love with Kiera McDougal a fellow musician, and suddenly he only wants her nothing else matters, he cant imagine life without her. Then a terrible accident tears them apart leaving him badly difigured. Sent away to die his love and obsession with Kiera only grows stronger but it is also his motivation to live. In desperation to get Kiera back he escapes determined to get her back and also to get revenge on all those closest to him that have betrayed him. Want to know more?? well go out and buy this AMAZING book and read it and it will leave you numb by this incredible, beautiful disturbing story.
This book was passionate, dark, gothic, heartbreaking, tormenting, poetic, disturbingly beautiful. It was an amazing incredible journey. I cannot wait till i get this on Hardback so i can re read it all over again.
Christine you have outdone yourself this time i cannot wait to read what you write next. :)
August 22, 2012
Transcend is unlike any other book you have read. When was the last time you read about a boy, a fractured boy, and the love of his life? The love he would sacrifice everything for--including his sanity?
I could not put Transcend down. Its dark and twisty curves kept me too engrossed, too enthralled with what would happen, too determined to uncover the truth of Ien's world to think about anything real-life.
The writing is lyrical, beautiful. The story is disturbing and intense and utterly unique--and in the end? In the end you'll listen to your favorite recording of The Phantom of the Opera and you'll feel as though you're hearing it for the first time. You'll finally understand the true tragedy of it all.
I could not put Transcend down. Its dark and twisty curves kept me too engrossed, too enthralled with what would happen, too determined to uncover the truth of Ien's world to think about anything real-life.
The writing is lyrical, beautiful. The story is disturbing and intense and utterly unique--and in the end? In the end you'll listen to your favorite recording of The Phantom of the Opera and you'll feel as though you're hearing it for the first time. You'll finally understand the true tragedy of it all.
June 27, 2012
This Phantom of the Opera-inspired tale is hauntingly dark and achingly beautiful, a story of love, loss, and obsession set against the decadent backdrop of historic New York that sucked me in and wouldn’t let go, from the first page until long after I’d finished. Ien still haunts my dreams…
September 16, 2012
My heart is bleeding and battered from the couple of days I spent agonizing while reading this hauntingly beautifully written tale of longing, love, and despair. I have to admit that this is not a book I would've normally chosen to read if it were not for the accolades and ravings of many fellow readers over the brilliance of this harrowing story. So I stepped outside my comfort zone and begged Christine for the opportunity to read and review this marvelous book of hers. I can't express the level of awe and respect I feel towards Christine Fonseca's talent as a writer because the writing in this book is simply SPECTACULAR. From the first chapter I found myself captivated. There's a love letter written by the main character Ien to the love of his life, his heart's obsession, Kiera. That love letter had me choked up with a knot in my throat that's how beautiful it was. I literally had to read it aloud to one of my friends because the words were so beautiful they needed to be shared. To write words capable of bringing readers to tears is a gift and I'm so very thankful to Chritine for sharing this gift with us.
As I said, this is not the type of book I normally choose to read because it is dark and mournful, filled with despondency and sorrow. Yet I found myself glued to its pages even as I cried and yelled continuously at my Kindle asking it to tell me WHY WHY? My heart kept breaking and breaking and I didn't know if I was going to be able to see Ien through all the pains of his misfortunes. I felt my heart burst with so much love for Ien. I felt pity for him. All the while wanting to urge him to fight and hold on to his love for Kiera. I loathed his horribly manipulative cold unfeeling mother. More consumed with the appearances of what she deemed acceptable and proper in well appointed society. I despised Ien's father even more for his ruthless and unyielding treatment of his sons especially Ien. I fell in love eith Jenna. Sweet trusting loving Jenna. The only true innocent in of heart as she gave Ien fealty, comfort, and love throughout their entire lives. The character development in this book are exquisite. The pacing is perfect. The story held me gripped in its folds from start to end. I loved the quotes at the opening of each new chapter giving you a sense of what was to come.
I almost feel like this story was like a runaway train In the sense that life or fate contrived in setting events in motion that could not be stopped or undone. With poor Ien tittering on the edge fighting to stay the course and not give into the bleakness of the life he was born into. I loved that I was able to feel in my soul all of the hurt and despair. All the love and the hate that Ien felt throughout the entire book. And I was surprised at the end because you never know exactly was it to become of Ien nor where his fate and actions will lead him. This was truly a revelation for me. An experience that I will not viery soon forget for Ien is embedded in my heart for a very long time. One of the most uniquely written characters I've read in some time. Christine, you have won yourself a new fan and as such will excitedly look forward to reading your work.
As I said, this is not the type of book I normally choose to read because it is dark and mournful, filled with despondency and sorrow. Yet I found myself glued to its pages even as I cried and yelled continuously at my Kindle asking it to tell me WHY WHY? My heart kept breaking and breaking and I didn't know if I was going to be able to see Ien through all the pains of his misfortunes. I felt my heart burst with so much love for Ien. I felt pity for him. All the while wanting to urge him to fight and hold on to his love for Kiera. I loathed his horribly manipulative cold unfeeling mother. More consumed with the appearances of what she deemed acceptable and proper in well appointed society. I despised Ien's father even more for his ruthless and unyielding treatment of his sons especially Ien. I fell in love eith Jenna. Sweet trusting loving Jenna. The only true innocent in of heart as she gave Ien fealty, comfort, and love throughout their entire lives. The character development in this book are exquisite. The pacing is perfect. The story held me gripped in its folds from start to end. I loved the quotes at the opening of each new chapter giving you a sense of what was to come.
I almost feel like this story was like a runaway train In the sense that life or fate contrived in setting events in motion that could not be stopped or undone. With poor Ien tittering on the edge fighting to stay the course and not give into the bleakness of the life he was born into. I loved that I was able to feel in my soul all of the hurt and despair. All the love and the hate that Ien felt throughout the entire book. And I was surprised at the end because you never know exactly was it to become of Ien nor where his fate and actions will lead him. This was truly a revelation for me. An experience that I will not viery soon forget for Ien is embedded in my heart for a very long time. One of the most uniquely written characters I've read in some time. Christine, you have won yourself a new fan and as such will excitedly look forward to reading your work.
January 11, 2015
This wasn't my kind of book, which I would have known if I had looked into it further before adding it to my TBR. But I knew most of my GR friends loved Christine Fonseca's Requiem series. I hadnt read it because I am not a fan of angels. But I saw that this was a historical and that's all I needed to know before I added it. I love historicals. But perhaps I should have still read a review or two before deciding. I'll just say right now that this is not a romance.
I am not a fan of heavy reads, and a story of a young man's journey into madness is certainly not light. Over half of this book was set in Ien's shattered mind, with no human interactions. It wasnt only boring, but unsettling. I know a lot of people enjoy books that make them uncomfortable, but I have never been one of them. The closest I came was when I read Close Liaisons, which I enjoyed despite possible Stockholm syndrome.
I can appreciate the swell of emotion that comes with this twisted journey, but I personally prefer only the positive emotions. And there isnt much else I can say. There were no sympathetic characters. Ien was too far gone to feel sorry for anymore, and we hardly saw anyone else enough to care about. Except for Jenna, which only makes me hate the ending more.
The writing in this was beautiful at times, very poetic, but confusing. I counldnt really follow what was happening because the writing was so abstract, on top of Ien's madness, which really didnt help. I dont know how much of the book was real, and how much only happened in his mind. I guess that isnt supposed to matter, but it does to me. Also, the POV kept changing from 1st person to 3rd person and it was jarring. If I began to get caught up into the story, the POV would change and knock me back out again. I tried to find a pattern in the POVs. I have seen other books where the POV would sometimes change for a reason, but I could find no pattern to it this time.
I know I must sound extremely harsh so far, but honestly I didnt hate it. I enjoyed it enough to keep reading, to want to find out what happened next. I'm not sure what made me keep going. I suppose it could have been the mystery. I wanted to find out what had really happened. So the story was good, if somewhat drawn out. It was a short book and it could have been shorter if less time had been spent in the sanitarium. To me it felt like a novella, because I didnt have time to really get invested. But I did cry in the end, so I guess that must count for something.
I am not a fan of heavy reads, and a story of a young man's journey into madness is certainly not light. Over half of this book was set in Ien's shattered mind, with no human interactions. It wasnt only boring, but unsettling. I know a lot of people enjoy books that make them uncomfortable, but I have never been one of them. The closest I came was when I read Close Liaisons, which I enjoyed despite possible Stockholm syndrome.
I can appreciate the swell of emotion that comes with this twisted journey, but I personally prefer only the positive emotions. And there isnt much else I can say. There were no sympathetic characters. Ien was too far gone to feel sorry for anymore, and we hardly saw anyone else enough to care about. Except for Jenna, which only makes me hate the ending more.
The writing in this was beautiful at times, very poetic, but confusing. I counldnt really follow what was happening because the writing was so abstract, on top of Ien's madness, which really didnt help. I dont know how much of the book was real, and how much only happened in his mind. I guess that isnt supposed to matter, but it does to me. Also, the POV kept changing from 1st person to 3rd person and it was jarring. If I began to get caught up into the story, the POV would change and knock me back out again. I tried to find a pattern in the POVs. I have seen other books where the POV would sometimes change for a reason, but I could find no pattern to it this time.
I know I must sound extremely harsh so far, but honestly I didnt hate it. I enjoyed it enough to keep reading, to want to find out what happened next. I'm not sure what made me keep going. I suppose it could have been the mystery. I wanted to find out what had really happened. So the story was good, if somewhat drawn out. It was a short book and it could have been shorter if less time had been spent in the sanitarium. To me it felt like a novella, because I didnt have time to really get invested. But I did cry in the end, so I guess that must count for something.
September 5, 2012
Wow!
Not sure exactly what I expected, but Transcend exceeded all expectations! Thank you, Christine, for offering this book for a review. I am not even sure what to write. I have loved all of your books, and have raced through them all. This was no exception!
This book is about Ien. He is one of the most tortured, disillusioned, heart breaking characters I have read about. Christine keeps you guessing until the end about what is real and what isn't. I could not help feeling gut-wrenching heartache for Ien as his story progressed, and I learned secrets about his past. I had mixed feelings about Mother, Kiera, James, and even Erik, as the story progressed and I learned new things. Sometimes I hated them, and other times I felt they were victims, and hoped for their peace. Throughout the book I really felt sad for Jenna. She seemed to truly care for and love Ien, and she tried her best to help him. This is definitely a page turner as you race to find what is real or in Ien's mind.
This is a story about insanity at its worst, and how it controlled Ien's life and actions. Christine Fonseca is a spectacular storyteller, and draws you in from page one. A wonderful read for all young adult/adult book lovers. I recommend to everyone!
Not sure exactly what I expected, but Transcend exceeded all expectations! Thank you, Christine, for offering this book for a review. I am not even sure what to write. I have loved all of your books, and have raced through them all. This was no exception!
This book is about Ien. He is one of the most tortured, disillusioned, heart breaking characters I have read about. Christine keeps you guessing until the end about what is real and what isn't. I could not help feeling gut-wrenching heartache for Ien as his story progressed, and I learned secrets about his past. I had mixed feelings about Mother, Kiera, James, and even Erik, as the story progressed and I learned new things. Sometimes I hated them, and other times I felt they were victims, and hoped for their peace. Throughout the book I really felt sad for Jenna. She seemed to truly care for and love Ien, and she tried her best to help him. This is definitely a page turner as you race to find what is real or in Ien's mind.
This is a story about insanity at its worst, and how it controlled Ien's life and actions. Christine Fonseca is a spectacular storyteller, and draws you in from page one. A wonderful read for all young adult/adult book lovers. I recommend to everyone!
September 24, 2012
hose of you that have followed me for awhile will know that I am a serious Christine Fonseca fan girl. This started with Lacrimosa but has continued on with every other thing I have picked up of hers. This book was no exception but I am at a loss for words with it. Seeing I got so invested both mentally and emotionally I figured that pouring it into a review would be no problem. Problem is everything just wont come out the way I want it to. This beautiful and dark novel is escaping all proper description from me.
Transcend begins with Ien and his desire to do not what his family expects but what he wants. To have the woman he loves love him back and to make music. However nothing in life is ever that simple is it? A tragic accident changes everything for Ien and leaves him not who he was. It leaves him with more damage than you can see. I was glued to Ien and everythime something changed my mind raced with his. My thoughts were continuous and my heart broke for him on several occasions for many different reasons. Some times it was almost painful to read all of the sorrow that Ien dealt with.
The depth in which Christine takes you into Ien's mind is astounding. After the accident there is much of Ien that in't right. His obsession becomes almost dangerous and he believes things that may or may not be there. There is some minor looping but it is what creates and develops much of Ien. It is after the accident when he is sent away because of his injuries and his families inability to want to care for him that you see many of the true colours of the novel. The beautiful, dark, mesmerizing and entrapping world that ensues Ien's accident is beyond anything that I could imagine.
Although there are many secondary characters you don't see them very much. Yet some how they all are memorable in their own way. Jenna, Kiera and James all only held a small portion of this book yet they captured much of it. Even when they are not there Ien quite often recalls things that involve each of the characters and you really feel like you know them by the time you close the book. Jenna was by far my favourite of all of them. She is the girl that you hope the guy ends up with. Strange we always hope for the bad boy when it's a girl but when it comes down to guys we want them to end up with the sweet heart.
The story itself is so unique. There are many twists and surprises and no matter how much you think you have it figured out you really don't. It really tosses you around and pulls you in many directions. But you don't ever feel lost, it's more like it helps you become a part of the madness and take you deeper into Ien and his story.
Christine once again created something that will enchant you and you will savour long after you put the book down. She never fails to astound me with her lyrical and remarkable writing style. Still after finishing this novel I find myself being pulled back and running through many of the events that led up to the end. In the start I questioned my own thoughts and by the end I questioned if anything I thought and read was true. Pick this one up if you want something that is emotionally vested and can take you into darkness while keeping you thinking.
Transcend begins with Ien and his desire to do not what his family expects but what he wants. To have the woman he loves love him back and to make music. However nothing in life is ever that simple is it? A tragic accident changes everything for Ien and leaves him not who he was. It leaves him with more damage than you can see. I was glued to Ien and everythime something changed my mind raced with his. My thoughts were continuous and my heart broke for him on several occasions for many different reasons. Some times it was almost painful to read all of the sorrow that Ien dealt with.
The depth in which Christine takes you into Ien's mind is astounding. After the accident there is much of Ien that in't right. His obsession becomes almost dangerous and he believes things that may or may not be there. There is some minor looping but it is what creates and develops much of Ien. It is after the accident when he is sent away because of his injuries and his families inability to want to care for him that you see many of the true colours of the novel. The beautiful, dark, mesmerizing and entrapping world that ensues Ien's accident is beyond anything that I could imagine.
Although there are many secondary characters you don't see them very much. Yet some how they all are memorable in their own way. Jenna, Kiera and James all only held a small portion of this book yet they captured much of it. Even when they are not there Ien quite often recalls things that involve each of the characters and you really feel like you know them by the time you close the book. Jenna was by far my favourite of all of them. She is the girl that you hope the guy ends up with. Strange we always hope for the bad boy when it's a girl but when it comes down to guys we want them to end up with the sweet heart.
The story itself is so unique. There are many twists and surprises and no matter how much you think you have it figured out you really don't. It really tosses you around and pulls you in many directions. But you don't ever feel lost, it's more like it helps you become a part of the madness and take you deeper into Ien and his story.
Christine once again created something that will enchant you and you will savour long after you put the book down. She never fails to astound me with her lyrical and remarkable writing style. Still after finishing this novel I find myself being pulled back and running through many of the events that led up to the end. In the start I questioned my own thoughts and by the end I questioned if anything I thought and read was true. Pick this one up if you want something that is emotionally vested and can take you into darkness while keeping you thinking.
September 18, 2012
Not just a novel, but a piece of fine art. I can't even describe the beauty of the words that Christine Fonseca has placed on the pages of Transcend. Such a moving story about love, loss and absolute madness that will keep you turning pages into the wee hours of the morning. Her words are poetic and flow so seemingly off the page. Her prose is reminiscent of the classic literature of my youth and I believe, without a doubt, that this book could well match them. Because it is written in a more contemporary style, it could be easily read and enjoyed by young people. I believe it will also appeal to those beyond a YA audience.
The book is set in upstate New York in 1895 and opens with Ien, who has been injured beyond recognition, writing a gut wrenching love letter to his beloved Kiera. It follows with a tragic story of a childhood that was less than ideal, a family with unrealistic expectations, images and voices that haunt him with secrets of the past and make him question what is real and what is in his head. Dark secrets are revealed little by little and leave you as confused and as determined as Ien to find the truth behind the lies.
I really enjoyed the quotes at the beginning of each chapter which seemed to link the chapters together. One of my favorite was, "My heart, all mad with misery, beats in hollow prison of my flesh." -William Shakespeare (Titus Andronicus). When I turned to the last page, a had goosebumps all over my arms. When written words on a page can do that, it's magic.
I could gush on and on about this story, but the writing sets it far and above almost anything I have read in recent memory. Simply beautiful.
The book is set in upstate New York in 1895 and opens with Ien, who has been injured beyond recognition, writing a gut wrenching love letter to his beloved Kiera. It follows with a tragic story of a childhood that was less than ideal, a family with unrealistic expectations, images and voices that haunt him with secrets of the past and make him question what is real and what is in his head. Dark secrets are revealed little by little and leave you as confused and as determined as Ien to find the truth behind the lies.
I really enjoyed the quotes at the beginning of each chapter which seemed to link the chapters together. One of my favorite was, "My heart, all mad with misery, beats in hollow prison of my flesh." -William Shakespeare (Titus Andronicus). When I turned to the last page, a had goosebumps all over my arms. When written words on a page can do that, it's magic.
I could gush on and on about this story, but the writing sets it far and above almost anything I have read in recent memory. Simply beautiful.
September 27, 2013
What a story! I wasn't exactly sure what to expect when I decided that I want to read this. It is told in Ien's POV and all he could think about was Kiera and their future together. The accident really broke him, physically and emotionally, at some point during his recovery, he felt like he was losing his sanity too. All he wanted was to be with Kiera, far away from his parents who controlled his life.
Each chapter dwells in Ien's thoughts and his madness, wallowing in sorrow and defeat. When he finally got the chance, he flees from the sanatorium to seek revenge on those who have wronged him. He also wanted to find the love of his life, tell her he's alive and not dead as like what his mother has made everyone to believe, and that they could start a new life together.
The ending came to me as a surprise, it was something I didn't expect. Each time Ien uncovers a different version of the truth, I would guess what would happen next or how the story would end, but I would find myself corrected. I feel bad for everyone involved, Ien, Kiera, James, Jenna, and even Ien's mother. The only logical thing to do was clear my mind and let the story unfold.
Transcend is a haunting tale that was amazingly written. Christine has once again pulled me in, took me to a roller coaster ride of emotions, and left me in tears; all in a good way.
Each chapter dwells in Ien's thoughts and his madness, wallowing in sorrow and defeat. When he finally got the chance, he flees from the sanatorium to seek revenge on those who have wronged him. He also wanted to find the love of his life, tell her he's alive and not dead as like what his mother has made everyone to believe, and that they could start a new life together.
The ending came to me as a surprise, it was something I didn't expect. Each time Ien uncovers a different version of the truth, I would guess what would happen next or how the story would end, but I would find myself corrected. I feel bad for everyone involved, Ien, Kiera, James, Jenna, and even Ien's mother. The only logical thing to do was clear my mind and let the story unfold.
Transcend is a haunting tale that was amazingly written. Christine has once again pulled me in, took me to a roller coaster ride of emotions, and left me in tears; all in a good way.
September 21, 2012
im not a big fan of classics .
But GOD !! christine fonseca Created a Classic that feels
like it was a Modern classic .
love it .
So Ien a 17 yr.old alive survive the fire and things like that
love this girl Kiera and he blames his Mother
for seperating them or against their relationship .
So Ien for the love of his life do whatever it takes
to be with kiera even though he will kill somebody to be with her .
Ien got this Voices in his head . but for me it is like good to bad conscience .
This is dark ,deep , betrayal , false pretenses and loss
i love how this is written .
i love the quotes in every beginning of the chapter because it gives
an idea to what will happen to that chapter .
im so lonely when i got to the part that jenna died
because i know in the very beginning that she loves ien
but of course boys are fool even though you say it in their face
they will be blind .
So in the end Ien just lost his love to his inner demons .
But GOD !! christine fonseca Created a Classic that feels
like it was a Modern classic .
love it .
So Ien a 17 yr.old alive survive the fire and things like that
love this girl Kiera and he blames his Mother
for seperating them or against their relationship .
So Ien for the love of his life do whatever it takes
to be with kiera even though he will kill somebody to be with her .
Ien got this Voices in his head . but for me it is like good to bad conscience .
This is dark ,deep , betrayal , false pretenses and loss
i love how this is written .
i love the quotes in every beginning of the chapter because it gives
an idea to what will happen to that chapter .
im so lonely when i got to the part that jenna died
because i know in the very beginning that she loves ien
but of course boys are fool even though you say it in their face
they will be blind .
So in the end Ien just lost his love to his inner demons .
October 5, 2012
Okay, I read the blurb for this and knew I had to read the book. I love Phantom of the Opera. Love it! So Transcend had me right there. Well, the main character Ien is desperately in love with Kiera. He can't think of much else and wants to propose, even though he's only seventeen and his parents don't approve. But a horrible fire leaves him disfigured and his parents tell the world he's dead.
Sent to die in a sanitarium, Ien can only think of Kiera and getting her back. He begins to see and hear his dead brother, driving him to madness. With a little help (I won't spoil it by saying whose help) he gets free and chases after the life he feels was stolen from him by his own mother. But Ien's rage only worsens after he returns home.
I don't want to give any spoilers, but oh my God the ending! I couldn't put the book down. It's dark, twisted, and sad. I felt like I was on an emotional roller coaster and I didn't want to get off.
Sent to die in a sanitarium, Ien can only think of Kiera and getting her back. He begins to see and hear his dead brother, driving him to madness. With a little help (I won't spoil it by saying whose help) he gets free and chases after the life he feels was stolen from him by his own mother. But Ien's rage only worsens after he returns home.
I don't want to give any spoilers, but oh my God the ending! I couldn't put the book down. It's dark, twisted, and sad. I felt like I was on an emotional roller coaster and I didn't want to get off.
February 10, 2016
OMG....Wow....what a ride...
I was pulled in right from the start. Wow... I'm so shocked and still reeling from the story. I'm still trying to figure out what really happened and what was all in Ien's mind. Such a haunting story. Kudos to Christine Fonseca for writing this beautifully evocative tale. Wow...still trying to wrap my head around it.
I was pulled in right from the start. Wow... I'm so shocked and still reeling from the story. I'm still trying to figure out what really happened and what was all in Ien's mind. Such a haunting story. Kudos to Christine Fonseca for writing this beautifully evocative tale. Wow...still trying to wrap my head around it.
September 17, 2012
I received a copy of this book for an honest review by the author and I am truly grateful.
Where do I start, if I could I would give this book 6 stars as I have never experienced such a roller coaster ride of tumultuous emotions before. Love is such a simple word yet it can be twisted and distorted by a warped mind to resemble something that is dark and menacing void of all light and warmth. Ien is seventeen and a composer who is frustrated by his strict parents who demand so much from him and being such a sensitive soul, he yearns for a different life. Forced to step up after his brothers death, Ien felt he could never live up to their expectations. Kiera is a violinist and they share a love of music and he falls madly in love with her, dreaming of their future together. "Warning - Spoilers Alert"
A terrible accident happens and Ien is horribly disfigured and is sent away to die after bearing witness to his own funeral. Glimpsing his love Keira there being comforted by his best fried James, Ien is torn between his love for her and the thoughts that she has been duplicitous in her feelings for him. Hidden away so as not to ruin his parents reputation and standing in the community, Ien descends into the depths of madness fuelled by his obsession with Keira and the life they should have had together, reliving that one perfect moment when she said "yes" to his proposal. Left alone and abandoned with no comfort or compassion, Ien's mind fragments further and he hears the voices of his dead brother Erik urging him to seek retribution. Betrayed by those he loves, he becomes like a broken record playing those thoughts over and over again in his mind. He honed those feelings of betrayal like a silver knife until they were razor sharp. Held captive by his body, disfigured and feeling helpless and alone, Ien flees the sanatorium fearful for his life. Perception is nine tenths of our reality and left alone to dwell on his tortured thoughts, devoid of any one to care or challenge his beliefs, they because his reality, his truth.
Jenna was like a beacon bright and shining, offering hope and redemption as she genuinely cared for Ien. She was a childhood friend who harboured real feelings for him but he had not ever entertained those thoughts as she was working for his family. Even at the very end she was there for him but he was so enveloped in his madness by then that it was too late. Transcend is a perfect name as the only feeling that does transcend death is love as it lingers forever in our hearts. Having lost my mother last year to Cancer I empathise with Christine and understand how working on this could be a labour of love and it is a fitting tribute to her mum. I must admit I cried at the end and also when I read the dedication as those feelings are still so fresh in my mind. This book is definitely hauntingly beautiful and thought provoking and regardless of who you are, you will come away with conflicting emotions. Crossing the boundaries from love into obsession is a dangerous one and very few people recover from that fall into the abyss. Sometimes the greatest lies are the ones we tell ourselves.
Where do I start, if I could I would give this book 6 stars as I have never experienced such a roller coaster ride of tumultuous emotions before. Love is such a simple word yet it can be twisted and distorted by a warped mind to resemble something that is dark and menacing void of all light and warmth. Ien is seventeen and a composer who is frustrated by his strict parents who demand so much from him and being such a sensitive soul, he yearns for a different life. Forced to step up after his brothers death, Ien felt he could never live up to their expectations. Kiera is a violinist and they share a love of music and he falls madly in love with her, dreaming of their future together. "Warning - Spoilers Alert"
A terrible accident happens and Ien is horribly disfigured and is sent away to die after bearing witness to his own funeral. Glimpsing his love Keira there being comforted by his best fried James, Ien is torn between his love for her and the thoughts that she has been duplicitous in her feelings for him. Hidden away so as not to ruin his parents reputation and standing in the community, Ien descends into the depths of madness fuelled by his obsession with Keira and the life they should have had together, reliving that one perfect moment when she said "yes" to his proposal. Left alone and abandoned with no comfort or compassion, Ien's mind fragments further and he hears the voices of his dead brother Erik urging him to seek retribution. Betrayed by those he loves, he becomes like a broken record playing those thoughts over and over again in his mind. He honed those feelings of betrayal like a silver knife until they were razor sharp. Held captive by his body, disfigured and feeling helpless and alone, Ien flees the sanatorium fearful for his life. Perception is nine tenths of our reality and left alone to dwell on his tortured thoughts, devoid of any one to care or challenge his beliefs, they because his reality, his truth.
Jenna was like a beacon bright and shining, offering hope and redemption as she genuinely cared for Ien. She was a childhood friend who harboured real feelings for him but he had not ever entertained those thoughts as she was working for his family. Even at the very end she was there for him but he was so enveloped in his madness by then that it was too late. Transcend is a perfect name as the only feeling that does transcend death is love as it lingers forever in our hearts. Having lost my mother last year to Cancer I empathise with Christine and understand how working on this could be a labour of love and it is a fitting tribute to her mum. I must admit I cried at the end and also when I read the dedication as those feelings are still so fresh in my mind. This book is definitely hauntingly beautiful and thought provoking and regardless of who you are, you will come away with conflicting emotions. Crossing the boundaries from love into obsession is a dangerous one and very few people recover from that fall into the abyss. Sometimes the greatest lies are the ones we tell ourselves.
October 7, 2015
Originally posted @ Black Lilies Are Deadly
Christine Fonseca is a gifted writer. It doesn’t matter what kind of story she’s telling, she always manages to hook me and get me completely immersed in it. Transcend was not the exception to this. Transcend is a well written, well thought out story which I enjoyed, even if it left me emotionally drained by the time I finished the book.
Ien is a very troubled young man and I had no idea just how deep it went until I started going deeper into the story. I had mentioned in a review for Lacrimosa, a few months ago, how one character was driving me a little crazy and I have to say, it will never compare to this.
In Transcend, there comes a point in the story when I literally felt I was inside Ien’s mind and was feeling a bit insane myself. A friend had warned me, “Dongsaeng, (Korean term for younger sibling, or in this case younger friend) Are you feeling insane yet?” But I had not understood why she asked me that until it hit me. I had to stop reading and leave her a message:
When the story was nearing its end there was a point when I couldn't tell what was going. And I left another message for my friend:
That’s how well the book was written. I was still seeing the events from Ien’s point of view and my brain was not processing the new twists. It just didn’t want to believe anything else that was happening. The ending of the book was along the lines of what I thought it would end like. But even though by the end I was a crying mess, I have to say the book did not disappoint me in the slightest.
Thanks to Christine for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. I enjoyed this trip through Ien's fractured mind.
It can also be found on Amazon.
Christine Fonseca is a gifted writer. It doesn’t matter what kind of story she’s telling, she always manages to hook me and get me completely immersed in it. Transcend was not the exception to this. Transcend is a well written, well thought out story which I enjoyed, even if it left me emotionally drained by the time I finished the book.
Ien is a very troubled young man and I had no idea just how deep it went until I started going deeper into the story. I had mentioned in a review for Lacrimosa, a few months ago, how one character was driving me a little crazy and I have to say, it will never compare to this.
In Transcend, there comes a point in the story when I literally felt I was inside Ien’s mind and was feeling a bit insane myself. A friend had warned me, “Dongsaeng, (Korean term for younger sibling, or in this case younger friend) Are you feeling insane yet?” But I had not understood why she asked me that until it hit me. I had to stop reading and leave her a message:
“I understand the going crazy while reading "Transcend" now. I think Ien's lunacy has seeped from the screen into my brain.”
When the story was nearing its end there was a point when I couldn't tell what was going. And I left another message for my friend:
“Unnie! (Korean term females call their older sisters, or in this case older female friends) James! Kiera! What's going on?!?!”
That’s how well the book was written. I was still seeing the events from Ien’s point of view and my brain was not processing the new twists. It just didn’t want to believe anything else that was happening. The ending of the book was along the lines of what I thought it would end like. But even though by the end I was a crying mess, I have to say the book did not disappoint me in the slightest.
Thanks to Christine for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. I enjoyed this trip through Ien's fractured mind.
It can also be found on Amazon.
September 27, 2012
Review originally featured on Bookluvrs Haven
(Weary Sigh)
This book left me feeling exhausted and utterly ragged.
First - I barely slept while trying to finish this novel. My fault... No! Christine Fonseca's fault! I just couldn't put this down!
Second - There was so much angst in this novel and I had a really hard time knowing what was truth and what wasn't...
But then, neither did our character. Madness must be exhausting...
The book synopsis indicates this story was inspired by Phantom of the Opera. So I really wanted to read this based on that alone. I am a HUGE Phantom fan. And I have picked up a novel or two that was inspired by that classic tale before and been thrilled with each novel so far.
This is a whole other unexpected beast though. Music is indeed a part of this story, and there are some obvious similarities, but I found this story so much darker! And for a YA novel, I didn't think that would be possible!
Ien is a character that, even through his most vengeful moments, pulled at my heart strings. He was filled with love, and rage, and the sense for revenge because he felt betrayed by the people he loved and trusted the most. He brought tears to my eyes. First because of how he felt when he realized his disfigurement. Then, when everything he wanted was taken away from him. Then when he found out, that what was taken away, was never his to begin with.
I spent the majority of this book crying for Ien...
This story is dark and abysmal but I am not surprised by the gushing reviews on this book so far. I really enjoyed this novel. That voice of madness that was Ien was just so believable, I have often wondered how the author captured it so vividly. It was stunning, and so multi-layered, yet it all came together to an ending that I kind of predicted, but was shocking nonetheless only because I wanted it to be different for poor Ien.
This is my first novel by Christine Fonseca, though I have had Lacrimosa on my to read list for months. I will not delay much longer in reading another of her novels.
*I received a eBook copy of this book for free to review from the author; this in no way influenced my review, all opinions are 100% honest and my own.*
(Weary Sigh)
This book left me feeling exhausted and utterly ragged.
First - I barely slept while trying to finish this novel. My fault... No! Christine Fonseca's fault! I just couldn't put this down!
Second - There was so much angst in this novel and I had a really hard time knowing what was truth and what wasn't...
But then, neither did our character. Madness must be exhausting...
The book synopsis indicates this story was inspired by Phantom of the Opera. So I really wanted to read this based on that alone. I am a HUGE Phantom fan. And I have picked up a novel or two that was inspired by that classic tale before and been thrilled with each novel so far.
This is a whole other unexpected beast though. Music is indeed a part of this story, and there are some obvious similarities, but I found this story so much darker! And for a YA novel, I didn't think that would be possible!
Ien is a character that, even through his most vengeful moments, pulled at my heart strings. He was filled with love, and rage, and the sense for revenge because he felt betrayed by the people he loved and trusted the most. He brought tears to my eyes. First because of how he felt when he realized his disfigurement. Then, when everything he wanted was taken away from him. Then when he found out, that what was taken away, was never his to begin with.
I spent the majority of this book crying for Ien...
This story is dark and abysmal but I am not surprised by the gushing reviews on this book so far. I really enjoyed this novel. That voice of madness that was Ien was just so believable, I have often wondered how the author captured it so vividly. It was stunning, and so multi-layered, yet it all came together to an ending that I kind of predicted, but was shocking nonetheless only because I wanted it to be different for poor Ien.
This is my first novel by Christine Fonseca, though I have had Lacrimosa on my to read list for months. I will not delay much longer in reading another of her novels.
*I received a eBook copy of this book for free to review from the author; this in no way influenced my review, all opinions are 100% honest and my own.*
September 16, 2012
4.5 Stars!
A beautifully dark and haunting tale of love, betrayal, revenge and obsession.
The opening chapter of this book blew me away. It was riddled with deep, dark, and powerful emotion.
My heart immediately felt for the narrator and I didn't even know who he was yet. I didn't even know his story and I barely knew his name.
But I felt his love, his despair. And I felt his pain, his anguish. And his horror.
To say this story was a strong one would be an understatement. To say it was powerful isn't quite good enough.
To say it will leave you breathless, your heart breaking and leave you feeling bereft might come as close as I can get to describing how I felt when it was over.
There are so many twists and turns in this one. So much is going on that you don't know what is reality or falsehoods or even just the illusions of a mad man. It really did keep me wondering and wanting to find out more. Wanting to uncover the truth. I needed to know what was real and what wasn't. And I needed to know the whole story. Ien's story.
My only complaint is that the book would sometimes shift from first person narrative to third person and it was a little disorienting, sometimes it would happen within the same chapter and I would have to back track and reread to make sure I didn't skip something.
Other than that, this really was a uniquely crafted tale of mystery and darkness.
I will be watching this author because I predict that she will be coming out with some pretty amazing things in the future if this book is any indication of what she is capable of.
A beautifully dark and haunting tale of love, betrayal, revenge and obsession.
The opening chapter of this book blew me away. It was riddled with deep, dark, and powerful emotion.
My heart immediately felt for the narrator and I didn't even know who he was yet. I didn't even know his story and I barely knew his name.
But I felt his love, his despair. And I felt his pain, his anguish. And his horror.
To say this story was a strong one would be an understatement. To say it was powerful isn't quite good enough.
To say it will leave you breathless, your heart breaking and leave you feeling bereft might come as close as I can get to describing how I felt when it was over.
There are so many twists and turns in this one. So much is going on that you don't know what is reality or falsehoods or even just the illusions of a mad man. It really did keep me wondering and wanting to find out more. Wanting to uncover the truth. I needed to know what was real and what wasn't. And I needed to know the whole story. Ien's story.
My only complaint is that the book would sometimes shift from first person narrative to third person and it was a little disorienting, sometimes it would happen within the same chapter and I would have to back track and reread to make sure I didn't skip something.
Other than that, this really was a uniquely crafted tale of mystery and darkness.
I will be watching this author because I predict that she will be coming out with some pretty amazing things in the future if this book is any indication of what she is capable of.
September 30, 2012
I really looked foreword to reading this book, a musician and artist by nature I have seen or played the music of the Phantom of the Opera so there was no doubt in my mind that this book would be a good one.
I loved the way we got to go into Ien's thoughts as he struggles to differentiate between what is real and what his mind makes up for him. This book is a very dark tale with just about everything you can imagine. This book will pull at your heart string's and is written so well it is somewhat easy to get lost in his thoughts and question what is real as well.
The one warning I will say is that it can put you in a blue sort of mood. Which is excellent since the writer was able to draw such emotion, but watching Ien go through so much, and struggle through it, I couldn't help but get down in the dumps with him as one thing after another presented itself in his hard life.
This is an excellent read and one I intend to re-read along side the music of the Phantom of the Opera so I can get a good feel and mood with the book.
October 27, 2012
As a devout fan of anything Phantom of the Opera (the musical and all adaptations) I absolutely loved this novel. I never understood why Christine from the original left Erik at the of the original novel as well as other adaptations. The thing I truly loved about this book was that the author wrote Ien's (the "Phantom") perspective in such a way that it was so eerily real.
The emotions seemed so real and raw that I felt I was peaking into the mind of a psychopath. I could feel the derangement of Ien as he struggled to grasp what was real and what was illusion. At some points I myself was losing my mind with Ien as he progressed in the story.
Even if you are not a Phantom fan or haven't read the original, I strongly recommend this book if your looking for something a little darker than you go for and a great psychopathic thriller!!
Ps. I loved that Ien's "evil voice" was named Erik :)
The emotions seemed so real and raw that I felt I was peaking into the mind of a psychopath. I could feel the derangement of Ien as he struggled to grasp what was real and what was illusion. At some points I myself was losing my mind with Ien as he progressed in the story.
Even if you are not a Phantom fan or haven't read the original, I strongly recommend this book if your looking for something a little darker than you go for and a great psychopathic thriller!!
Ps. I loved that Ien's "evil voice" was named Erik :)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 29, 2012
Transcend is unlike anything I have ever read. It's a YA psychological thriller that gently lead me down a dark and disturbing path until I found myself questioning my own sanity. Christine Fonseca brilliantly develops awareness and empathy in her readers by allowing them to view the world through Ien's eyes. Thank you Christine for giving me a tragically beautiful story that I could not put down and for forcing me to view the world from a different perspective.
September 22, 2012
Wow, I don't even know how to begin. It was beautiful and artistic and amazing. I can't describe it so you'll have to read this for yourself. I kept trying to read faster so I could find out what was going to happen. I could almost hear the music. Maybe it's because I'm a huge fan of Phantom Of The Opera but that's the music that I was hearing while I read this.
I got to the end and I wanted more!
So well done. Great job Christine!!!
I got to the end and I wanted more!
So well done. Great job Christine!!!
September 20, 2012
This book was hauntingly beautiful. I don't even know how to describe it! I wasn't completely engrossed from the beginning but that could be because I wasn't really in the mood for such a sad story but that doesn't make the book any less amazing. It was extremely well written and such an original and intriguing idea. I'm still thinking about the ending!
Also, I'd like to thank Christine for providing me an ARC for an honest review! This book should be read by everyone!
Also, I'd like to thank Christine for providing me an ARC for an honest review! This book should be read by everyone!
September 15, 2012
Christine, Christine. You and your phantom were unbelievable. So good! I couldn't wait to find out the truth behind Ien. The story is laid out beautifully as each piece of the puzzle is exposed. Absolutely heartwrenching ans shocking. I think I may have actually covered my mouth with my hand a few times. Again, so, so good
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