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The Unaltered #1
A Diamond In My Pocket
When Calli Courtnae breaks the World Record for the 100m, she is invited to Montana to prepare for National tryouts. However, upon arrival using her lip reading ability she realizes she’s been lied to, or at least not told the whole truth. She's a superhuman, a Runner, and her new world includes transporting packages for other supernatural groups.
She’s paired up with an overly anxious Gothic roommate, is continuously glared down by the gorgeous top-dog, Chris, who feels she doesn’t belong, and is placed on a delivery team to transport a valuable magical diamond to a clan of terrorists who can kill with their thoughts.
Chris, the team leader, is given the diamond, but Calli secretly receives the real stone along with a vision of the future and an explanation of why she was hand selected to carry out the mission. Almost immediately the hidden diamond oozes unprecedented additional powers and abilities in Calli making her more sought after than the diamond itself.
She’s paired up with an overly anxious Gothic roommate, is continuously glared down by the gorgeous top-dog, Chris, who feels she doesn’t belong, and is placed on a delivery team to transport a valuable magical diamond to a clan of terrorists who can kill with their thoughts.
Chris, the team leader, is given the diamond, but Calli secretly receives the real stone along with a vision of the future and an explanation of why she was hand selected to carry out the mission. Almost immediately the hidden diamond oozes unprecedented additional powers and abilities in Calli making her more sought after than the diamond itself.
ebook
First published May 27, 2011
866 people are currently reading
2017 people want to read
About the author
Lorena Angell
14 books115 followersI grew up reading Beverly Cleary and Madeleine L'Engle, loving their skillful way of weaving a story together. My children hooked me on the Harry Potter series, which inspired me to attempt to write my own books.
My book ideas come largely from dreams. My Lost Crown series (formally known as Scars of Defiance) began as a recurring dream in the early 1990s. In 2005, inspired by J.K. Rowling's author story, I began handwriting my dreams. I found I could type out my stories quicker and with better form. Unfortunately, it became painfully clear I should have paid better attention in English class.
Scars of Defiance and The Dictator’s Daughter have been rewritten and retitled. The series is called Lost Crown, with books one and two titled Royal Refugee and Royal Resistance. Book three will be titled Royal Redemption.
The Unaltered
Book one, A Diamond In My Pocket, began as a dream, also. However, it was a rare event for me because 1) the dream was fantasy, and I never dream in fantasy settings, and 2) the dream had a beginning, middle, and end. I remember waking up and thinking, Wow! I’ve got to write that down! I spent the better part of four days typing 50,000 words. Not much of the original storyline changed throughout the editing process. Some parts didn’t fit into the story, such as other powers and abilities, but those were worked into the following books in the series. My daughter, Luna, helped me immensely in developing the back story of the magical diamond and the possibilities of where the series could go. She is an active collaborator.
The Unaltered series is professionally edited and available in ebook and paperback. Audiobooks are available for books 1-4. There will be eight books in the series
A little about me -- When reading books, I love the unexpected twist, the ‘Prof. Snape’ characters who are not what you think, and good chemistry between the sexes. I try to incorporate these into my books because I write what I like to read.
My husband is very supportive of my writing. When I finally let him read my rough draft of The Dictator’s Daughter, (the first book I wrote), he was floored. He told me he had to keep reminding himself that his wife had written the book. He also wondered, “Who is this woman I’m married to?”
Some tidbits about myself: I married my husband in 1989. We have three daughters. I’ve worked in many fields and in many capacities, such as working the craft fair circuits selling my hand-painted wall hangings, a Pampered Chef consultant demonstrating over 250 kitchen shows and trade shows, operating a catering business specializing in wedding receptions and Christmas parties, running a State licensed home daycare for five years (gray hair from that one), working a short stint at a juvenile detention center, another short stint at a grocery store bakery (4 am shifts are for the birds), working in a family practice medical office as a file clerk, operating an online jewelry business buying from bidz.com and selling on eBay, working as a Beauty Consultant for Walgreens, and finally becoming a certified pharmacy technician (CPhT). All of these varying jobs, the people I've met along the way, and the life lessons learned have helped me with my writing and character development.
My life has never been boring.
Thanks for reading!
My book ideas come largely from dreams. My Lost Crown series (formally known as Scars of Defiance) began as a recurring dream in the early 1990s. In 2005, inspired by J.K. Rowling's author story, I began handwriting my dreams. I found I could type out my stories quicker and with better form. Unfortunately, it became painfully clear I should have paid better attention in English class.
Scars of Defiance and The Dictator’s Daughter have been rewritten and retitled. The series is called Lost Crown, with books one and two titled Royal Refugee and Royal Resistance. Book three will be titled Royal Redemption.
The Unaltered
Book one, A Diamond In My Pocket, began as a dream, also. However, it was a rare event for me because 1) the dream was fantasy, and I never dream in fantasy settings, and 2) the dream had a beginning, middle, and end. I remember waking up and thinking, Wow! I’ve got to write that down! I spent the better part of four days typing 50,000 words. Not much of the original storyline changed throughout the editing process. Some parts didn’t fit into the story, such as other powers and abilities, but those were worked into the following books in the series. My daughter, Luna, helped me immensely in developing the back story of the magical diamond and the possibilities of where the series could go. She is an active collaborator.
The Unaltered series is professionally edited and available in ebook and paperback. Audiobooks are available for books 1-4. There will be eight books in the series
A little about me -- When reading books, I love the unexpected twist, the ‘Prof. Snape’ characters who are not what you think, and good chemistry between the sexes. I try to incorporate these into my books because I write what I like to read.
My husband is very supportive of my writing. When I finally let him read my rough draft of The Dictator’s Daughter, (the first book I wrote), he was floored. He told me he had to keep reminding himself that his wife had written the book. He also wondered, “Who is this woman I’m married to?”
Some tidbits about myself: I married my husband in 1989. We have three daughters. I’ve worked in many fields and in many capacities, such as working the craft fair circuits selling my hand-painted wall hangings, a Pampered Chef consultant demonstrating over 250 kitchen shows and trade shows, operating a catering business specializing in wedding receptions and Christmas parties, running a State licensed home daycare for five years (gray hair from that one), working a short stint at a juvenile detention center, another short stint at a grocery store bakery (4 am shifts are for the birds), working in a family practice medical office as a file clerk, operating an online jewelry business buying from bidz.com and selling on eBay, working as a Beauty Consultant for Walgreens, and finally becoming a certified pharmacy technician (CPhT). All of these varying jobs, the people I've met along the way, and the life lessons learned have helped me with my writing and character development.
My life has never been boring.
Thanks for reading!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 194 reviews
September 18, 2013
I really need to try being nicer in my reviews. But books like these really test my ability to do so.
I really don't much like this book.
But it's more than that. I started to like it. At the beginning I was interested in what was going on. That was until the character got every super power ever invented. The problem with amassing so much powers in one person (human or not) they start becoming unreal. Towards the end of this book, the main character had no flaw and could make no mistakes. She saw and knew everything. It really eliminated all elements of tension.
Everything in this book also felt incredibly rushed. We went from finding out the MC had powers, to her suddenly having super powerful powers, to actually very minimal powers, to a lot of powers again, to being just an average human, to in actuality being the strongest and most amazing super special being in existence. It sort of felt like the author didn't know what she wanted her MC to actually be. And the bouncing around just got on my nerves. She could surprise us once or twice without me getting annoyed. But there were waaaaay too many surprise twists in this story.
I disliked the romance. It seemed fueled purely by a vision that may or may not be true. They broke up over the silliest of reasons and then got back together because the future told them that they'd end up together. And [SPOILERS] in the end, Chris breaks up with her simply because she doesn't exactly fit the image of this future vision he's seen. It's really quite stupid and honestly, I don't understand why they liked each other in the first place.
The author had a weird conception of how illnesses work. The tumor in Jonas' body was described in such a way that I'd have to imagine it'd be pretty impossible for there not to be some sort of signs. And snoring doesn't count. One of the number one causes of snoring is allergies... not cancer. Maybe a tumor could affect nasal passages. I don't confess to being an expert on the subject. It just sounded horribly far fetched and made me roll my eyes when I read it.
Also, I laughed during the drowning scene. So apparently we are led to believe that Chris saved the MC, administered CPR and was successfully able to revive her- all while drowning himself. So he's able to pull all of this off before he himself collapses with his lungs full of water? How could he perform CPR if he himself had water in his lungs? Again, I'm no expert. But I'm pretty sure this is ridiculous. It's about as silly as when Desdemona in Othello, popped back up after being smothered to death to deliver one line of dialogue and then dying again. If you have air enough to speak (or preform CPR) why would you die shortly there after?
I'm not even going to get into how stupid it was that Chris was apparently some sort of government spy. I mean really? I think that alone made me remove a star from my rating.
The book had a good spine. It has elements of a good story to it. I was interested in the concept of the powers, not necessarily in the mashing of all the powers in one super person. I liked the idea of the MC being a human hidden amongst all the supers. And I even liked the MC at first, before the love interest was introduced.
So I would have normally given this book two stars, if the ending didn't feel as slap dash as it was. I think this book deserves a good re-haul. I don't believe it was ready to be published as it is now. If you are looking for a good book, even though it's free, I'd recommend looking elsewhere.
Edit: While I won't detract my opinion as that would be dishonest of me, I do want to say that I am impressed by Lorena Angell. She's read my review and instead of being angry as most authors would be after my snarky comments, she was actually very nice, polite and left me feeling extremely humbled. Even though I did not like the first book in Unaltered, I will say this. It takes a really great author to take a review like mine and not hate my guts. And for that reason alone, I will give this book two stars. Because I believe that Angell can improve.
I'm probably the big bad wolf of reviewers so hopefully Angell won't have to deal with too many more of me in the future. :)
I really don't much like this book.
But it's more than that. I started to like it. At the beginning I was interested in what was going on. That was until the character got every super power ever invented. The problem with amassing so much powers in one person (human or not) they start becoming unreal. Towards the end of this book, the main character had no flaw and could make no mistakes. She saw and knew everything. It really eliminated all elements of tension.
Everything in this book also felt incredibly rushed. We went from finding out the MC had powers, to her suddenly having super powerful powers, to actually very minimal powers, to a lot of powers again, to being just an average human, to in actuality being the strongest and most amazing super special being in existence. It sort of felt like the author didn't know what she wanted her MC to actually be. And the bouncing around just got on my nerves. She could surprise us once or twice without me getting annoyed. But there were waaaaay too many surprise twists in this story.
I disliked the romance. It seemed fueled purely by a vision that may or may not be true. They broke up over the silliest of reasons and then got back together because the future told them that they'd end up together. And [SPOILERS] in the end, Chris breaks up with her simply because she doesn't exactly fit the image of this future vision he's seen. It's really quite stupid and honestly, I don't understand why they liked each other in the first place.
The author had a weird conception of how illnesses work. The tumor in Jonas' body was described in such a way that I'd have to imagine it'd be pretty impossible for there not to be some sort of signs. And snoring doesn't count. One of the number one causes of snoring is allergies... not cancer. Maybe a tumor could affect nasal passages. I don't confess to being an expert on the subject. It just sounded horribly far fetched and made me roll my eyes when I read it.
Also, I laughed during the drowning scene. So apparently we are led to believe that Chris saved the MC, administered CPR and was successfully able to revive her- all while drowning himself. So he's able to pull all of this off before he himself collapses with his lungs full of water? How could he perform CPR if he himself had water in his lungs? Again, I'm no expert. But I'm pretty sure this is ridiculous. It's about as silly as when Desdemona in Othello, popped back up after being smothered to death to deliver one line of dialogue and then dying again. If you have air enough to speak (or preform CPR) why would you die shortly there after?
I'm not even going to get into how stupid it was that Chris was apparently some sort of government spy. I mean really? I think that alone made me remove a star from my rating.
The book had a good spine. It has elements of a good story to it. I was interested in the concept of the powers, not necessarily in the mashing of all the powers in one super person. I liked the idea of the MC being a human hidden amongst all the supers. And I even liked the MC at first, before the love interest was introduced.
So I would have normally given this book two stars, if the ending didn't feel as slap dash as it was. I think this book deserves a good re-haul. I don't believe it was ready to be published as it is now. If you are looking for a good book, even though it's free, I'd recommend looking elsewhere.
Edit: While I won't detract my opinion as that would be dishonest of me, I do want to say that I am impressed by Lorena Angell. She's read my review and instead of being angry as most authors would be after my snarky comments, she was actually very nice, polite and left me feeling extremely humbled. Even though I did not like the first book in Unaltered, I will say this. It takes a really great author to take a review like mine and not hate my guts. And for that reason alone, I will give this book two stars. Because I believe that Angell can improve.
I'm probably the big bad wolf of reviewers so hopefully Angell won't have to deal with too many more of me in the future. :)
August 17, 2011
I got this book because it was free on my kindle, so I figured "Why not?". Obviously, it being free, I didn't have very big expectations for it...The book was interesting enough for me to finish it, I'll say that much, but it just felt like there were things missing... The main character, Calli, understands and excepts this new world she has been thrown into WAY too fast, she knows and understands things that she has never been told (and often better than everyone else in the book that has been living in this world for years...). Calli and Chris's relationship also developed way too fast and it was always very confusing...and I mean I really don't mind fast developing relationships in books, but this one they literally in like one page went from completely hating each other to being this inseparable couple. Then there is Jason. When he is first introduced Calli seems to not really mind him, and then suddenly she completely hates him and apparently has from the start...Well there is my rant about this book. Honestly though, if you have a kindle and it is a rainy day and you have nothing else to read (and you have a high tolerence for books) you might as well download it free and try it. I am quite frustrated with the ending though so I might have to skim the next book to see what happens.
January 30, 2012
This book is a quick read and packed with adventure. However, the main character isn't that believable as a teenager, which really hurts with the whole willing suspension of disbelief philosophy. I noticed that many of the characters didn't react within the bell curve of normal in this novel, and the overreactions took me out of the story quite a bit. I would have enjoyed this book a lot more if the characters' reactions had been believable. Instead, they all seemed bipolar half of the time.
Calli, the main character and narrator of the book, is not believable as a teenager. Even the geekiest teenager wouldn't use the words that Calli uses to describe things. Her wording is that of a 30+ year old woman with a college degree, not that of a teenager. Also, her outlooks, both on her life, and on herself are very logical. That's also not normal as a teenager. Considering teenagers have new chemicals firing off in their bodies all the time, it's nearly impossible for them to remain level-headed. That being said, Calli is a nice and likable character, and at least she's comfortable with herself. She doesn't attach herself to and pine after random boys, and she takes the steps necessary to improve her life and herself.
The other characters didn't stand out to me very much. They were all kind of fillers and cookie-cutter stereotypes. The idea, on the other hand, was very interesting. A magical diamond which brings out more abilities for the person who carries it? That's cool within itself. Then when you pair that with the fact that Calli is already a supernatural, then you have the recipe for a terrific plot. There is plenty of action, including bullying, suicide, and attempted kidnapping. Mix that with people who run at superhuman paces, mind-reading, and psychic visions, and you won't be bored for a second with this novel.
The pacing of the book is pretty spot on, and the action starts pretty quickly. It's a shorter book, under 200 pages, and you'll fly through it in no time. This novel did a terrific job of building the world that Calli lives in, and I can't wait to see what happens in the sequel, A Diamond in My Heart, which comes out on January 31, 2012. You'll definitely want to check this book out!
Check out my other reviews, giveaways, author interviews, and more at http://falln2books.blogspot.com
Calli, the main character and narrator of the book, is not believable as a teenager. Even the geekiest teenager wouldn't use the words that Calli uses to describe things. Her wording is that of a 30+ year old woman with a college degree, not that of a teenager. Also, her outlooks, both on her life, and on herself are very logical. That's also not normal as a teenager. Considering teenagers have new chemicals firing off in their bodies all the time, it's nearly impossible for them to remain level-headed. That being said, Calli is a nice and likable character, and at least she's comfortable with herself. She doesn't attach herself to and pine after random boys, and she takes the steps necessary to improve her life and herself.
The other characters didn't stand out to me very much. They were all kind of fillers and cookie-cutter stereotypes. The idea, on the other hand, was very interesting. A magical diamond which brings out more abilities for the person who carries it? That's cool within itself. Then when you pair that with the fact that Calli is already a supernatural, then you have the recipe for a terrific plot. There is plenty of action, including bullying, suicide, and attempted kidnapping. Mix that with people who run at superhuman paces, mind-reading, and psychic visions, and you won't be bored for a second with this novel.
The pacing of the book is pretty spot on, and the action starts pretty quickly. It's a shorter book, under 200 pages, and you'll fly through it in no time. This novel did a terrific job of building the world that Calli lives in, and I can't wait to see what happens in the sequel, A Diamond in My Heart, which comes out on January 31, 2012. You'll definitely want to check this book out!
Check out my other reviews, giveaways, author interviews, and more at http://falln2books.blogspot.com
April 17, 2012
This novel is the perfect example of tell, don't show. I was told what people were thinking, I was told what people were doing. I never felt connected to the characters or their experiences. The plot had moments of promise, but the author's inability to make me feel it kept me distanced.
And please, please find someone to edit for you. At one point, the main character "mauls" over her thoughts. Mauls? Really? How about mauling the English language. It's mull over one's thoughts. Although I have to say, it did make me laugh.
And please, please find someone to edit for you. At one point, the main character "mauls" over her thoughts. Mauls? Really? How about mauling the English language. It's mull over one's thoughts. Although I have to say, it did make me laugh.
July 9, 2023
I’ve read this book 3 times now. Once, when I was 12, then when I was 14, and now at 23. When I was 12 and 14, they were the best books I had ever read. At 23, I’m… noticing some things I hadn’t noticed 10 years prior. The plot is definitely rushed and a bit messy, and the romance feels very forced. But, when I was a young girl, these books meant everything to me, hence the 4-star review. It’s a fun, action-packed book about superpowers. It may not be perfect, but certainly is enjoyable at any age. Thank you, Lorena Angell, for making my childhood so magical!
April 29, 2020
This was a DNF a the 40% mark. I can't be any more succinct in my thoughts but to say - this was just flat out stupid.
The fact that the author mentions J.K Rowling AND Stephen King in her blurb is mind boggling to me. No, Honey, you don't get to align your book with those mega-stars unless it is out of the ballpark fantastic - when it comes to your book - everyone arrives at the park and looks at one another "did anyone even bring a ball?"
The fact that the author mentions J.K Rowling AND Stephen King in her blurb is mind boggling to me. No, Honey, you don't get to align your book with those mega-stars unless it is out of the ballpark fantastic - when it comes to your book - everyone arrives at the park and looks at one another "did anyone even bring a ball?"
May 23, 2017
can't wait for the next book.
May 17, 2014
I as well downloaded this book for its "free" status. I have done this so many times that when i search through my kindle list i forget what the stories are about since they have sat there for so long while reading other books that have piqued my interest. So i finally ran out of reading material I came across this title again and figured "its time to give it a try" so i go into it thinking based on the title (not remembering what this story is about) that its probably some romance novel...i was pleasantly surprised i was way off! Once i started i couldn't put it down! Fast paced adventure..a little romance and supernatural beings! Yay! My favorite kind of book! Needless to say i ended up downloading and reading the entire series and read it in less then a week! On the last leg of it now! Cant wait to get to the ending! If you love books on people with supernatural powers with a bit of a love story wrapped into it, government involvements and less then likely heroes then this is the series for you!
Want to read
February 13, 2019🎁 FREE on Amazon today (2/13/2019)! 🎁
Blurb:
After breaking the 100m world record, sixteen-year-old Calli is whisked away to a secret facility where she's placed with other teens who possess superhuman speed. She soon finds herself in a deadly situation involving other superpowers, a mystical diamond, and a centuries-old clan vying for world domination. Calli will have to rely on her quick wit and gut instinct to navigate her new world which includes secretly carrying a power-infusing diamond, all the while steering clear of the young man who mistakenly believes she's his soulmate.
Book one of The Unaltered series introduces a secret universe existing within our own. In this world, cosmic energy grants superhuman abilities, and people of like ability band together in clans for both safety and community. Flesh-ripping demons prowl at night, drawn to the cosmic energy. Governments spy on clans, clans spy on governments, and trusting the wrong person may carry a terrible price.
Blurb:
After breaking the 100m world record, sixteen-year-old Calli is whisked away to a secret facility where she's placed with other teens who possess superhuman speed. She soon finds herself in a deadly situation involving other superpowers, a mystical diamond, and a centuries-old clan vying for world domination. Calli will have to rely on her quick wit and gut instinct to navigate her new world which includes secretly carrying a power-infusing diamond, all the while steering clear of the young man who mistakenly believes she's his soulmate.
Book one of The Unaltered series introduces a secret universe existing within our own. In this world, cosmic energy grants superhuman abilities, and people of like ability band together in clans for both safety and community. Flesh-ripping demons prowl at night, drawn to the cosmic energy. Governments spy on clans, clans spy on governments, and trusting the wrong person may carry a terrible price.
November 23, 2012
I wasn't too fond of this book. I found the plot engaging, but the main character was very much a Mary Sue. She winds up , which I found quite irritating. The plot was what saved this from a one star review; it was pretty engaging, although it did drag a bit in the middle.
October 28, 2012
Eh...my ten year old son likes it..... But he's in love with all the Goosebumps books too. So I'll give it two stars for him. But as an adult...no way.. The protagonist is okay with this strange new world of hers way too fast and the proverbial asshole hot guy falls for her way too fast. Not for me but hand it off to your tween. They may like it.
August 8, 2013
I love finding books that are nothing like what I expect. This book surprised me...big time! It's such a unique premise, nothing at all like other YA novels out there. The author did an amazing job of setting it up, lots of intrigue and action. I liked the main character very much. I'm looking forward to reading the sequel, probably one of the biggest compliments out there!
March 8, 2012
This is another book about teenage superheroes but with a new approach. From the first sentence, I was captivated. The book is pure fantasy, pure fun, and has a light touch of romance.
May 8, 2019
After breaking the 100m world record, sixteen-year-old Calli is whisked away to a secret facility where she's placed with other teens who possess superhuman speed. She soon finds herself in a deadly situation involving other superpowers, a mystical diamond, and a centuries-old clan vying for world domination. Calli will have to rely on her quick wit and gut instinct to navigate her new world which includes secretly carrying a power-infusing diamond, all the while steering clear of the young man who mistakenly believes she's his soulmate.
I received this from Voracious Reads as a free Ebook is exchange for an honest review.
This is book one in the series.
We are introduced to 16-year-old Callie who suddenly finds herself breaking the 100m world record after always being last in sports. She is whisked away to a secret training facility where she is surrounded by people who possess superhuman speed.
They are the Altered who were kissed by cosmic energy which gives them powers. They are the Runners who have superhuman speed. There are also Healers, Seers, Mind-readers, and other assorted powers who divide themselves into clans.
Calli arrives at the school right as some Runners have been kidnapped by the Death Clan. She is chosen as one of the team who must retrieve a diamond to exchange for the hostages.
The basic premise is a good one. A person just coming into their powers, thrust into the world of secret government spies, clans, witches and deadly shadow monsters. A girl trying to do the right thing surrounded by those who look down on her.
Calli is, at the outset, not as fast or as mired in the world as the rest of the characters so we get to experience it all through her eyes. Her initial disbelief is quickly assuaged by the proof in front of her and so we too suspend our disbelief and go with it.
I really liked the fact that, even though she assumes she will be the fastest, she ends up falling behind on her first race. That was a great piece of writing as, just like Calli, you assumed that because she is the protagonist she would win.
Once she meets the witch, however, the plot veers and within a very short space of time, Calli becomes all-powerful and indestructible. She knows all and has all of the different powers from every clan and suddenly our average MC is practically the Chosen one. I found this really hard to swallow and it diminished my enjoyment of the book.
As much as I loved the fact that there wasn’t a love triangle (finally in a YA!), there was a romance based entirely on a vision the lead guy had seen which turned out to be false, and then true and then false. I didn’t actually feel any chemistry between Calli and Chris and her constant delving into his mind uninvited and unannounced smacked a little too much of lack of consent and a disregard of boundaries to me.
Also, she was only at the school for a matter of days before they went off on their mission and during most of that she was called names and insulted and suddenly she is willing to risk her life for these school mates and calls them friends?
Any 16-year-old worth their salt would have dumped these self-righteous idiots and left them to fend for themselves after what they put her through.
There was also the drowning scene where Chris managed to rescue her and give her CPR whilst… drowning internally himself.
?
Yeah, I was a little confused for that scene.
Overall it had a good start and initially, I was enjoying the story. But the sudden inclusion of every super-power and our MC going from average to almost deity within a few months was really inconsistent and jarring.
The different clans and the very idea of the super-secret cosmic superheroes was a good one but the execution wasn’t all that.
I received this from Voracious Reads as a free Ebook is exchange for an honest review.
This is book one in the series.
We are introduced to 16-year-old Callie who suddenly finds herself breaking the 100m world record after always being last in sports. She is whisked away to a secret training facility where she is surrounded by people who possess superhuman speed.
They are the Altered who were kissed by cosmic energy which gives them powers. They are the Runners who have superhuman speed. There are also Healers, Seers, Mind-readers, and other assorted powers who divide themselves into clans.
Calli arrives at the school right as some Runners have been kidnapped by the Death Clan. She is chosen as one of the team who must retrieve a diamond to exchange for the hostages.
The basic premise is a good one. A person just coming into their powers, thrust into the world of secret government spies, clans, witches and deadly shadow monsters. A girl trying to do the right thing surrounded by those who look down on her.
Calli is, at the outset, not as fast or as mired in the world as the rest of the characters so we get to experience it all through her eyes. Her initial disbelief is quickly assuaged by the proof in front of her and so we too suspend our disbelief and go with it.
I really liked the fact that, even though she assumes she will be the fastest, she ends up falling behind on her first race. That was a great piece of writing as, just like Calli, you assumed that because she is the protagonist she would win.
Once she meets the witch, however, the plot veers and within a very short space of time, Calli becomes all-powerful and indestructible. She knows all and has all of the different powers from every clan and suddenly our average MC is practically the Chosen one. I found this really hard to swallow and it diminished my enjoyment of the book.
As much as I loved the fact that there wasn’t a love triangle (finally in a YA!), there was a romance based entirely on a vision the lead guy had seen which turned out to be false, and then true and then false. I didn’t actually feel any chemistry between Calli and Chris and her constant delving into his mind uninvited and unannounced smacked a little too much of lack of consent and a disregard of boundaries to me.
Also, she was only at the school for a matter of days before they went off on their mission and during most of that she was called names and insulted and suddenly she is willing to risk her life for these school mates and calls them friends?
Any 16-year-old worth their salt would have dumped these self-righteous idiots and left them to fend for themselves after what they put her through.
There was also the drowning scene where Chris managed to rescue her and give her CPR whilst… drowning internally himself.
?
Yeah, I was a little confused for that scene.
Overall it had a good start and initially, I was enjoying the story. But the sudden inclusion of every super-power and our MC going from average to almost deity within a few months was really inconsistent and jarring.
The different clans and the very idea of the super-secret cosmic superheroes was a good one but the execution wasn’t all that.
April 29, 2020
You know, the premise sounded familiar and as I read through the novel I realized I’d read it a few years ago. I didn’t 100% remember it so just kept on until the end. It would definitely appeal to younger readers (teens and younger adults), but I think I might be a tad old to really appreciate this novel.
The compound is full of mean girls and boys and honestly just plays up the high school jerk jock stereotype. Everyone bullies the new girl, avoids her, and gives her dirty looks all the time. Strange when the ages range from 13-23 in that place. You’d think there’d be some individuals who don’t give in to that hive mentality. At least some of them become nicer people later but only after Calli’s powers manifest.
Calli herself is rather ordinary but it’s nice that she doesn’t let everyone else bring her down. She’s not the most gifted runner (indeed, she’s actually had some help in that department), but her personality and strength of character makes her stand out to key people. Maybe that’s why everyone else is such a jerk. Personally, I’d have liked her to stand out despite everyone else being a douche (would’ve toned down the Mary Sue vibes) but whatever. And perhaps also with fewer powers shuffling around. I get why it happens, but there’s just too much thrown in to make her “better” than the rest.
The relationship between Calli and Chris is somewhat reminiscent of Bella and Edward in that the boy seems to strongly dislike the gulf but really he’s just confused and resisting his strong feelings of attraction. Similarly, they fight then cuddle up pretty quickly. There’s also a bit of an age gap here, but it’s not as big as B&E. It’s still a touch uncomfortable though because if anything really happened it’d be illegal. Thankfully Chris practices restraint and it’s possible the romance won’t fully bloom until Calli’s an adult in the sequels.
The Sanguine Diamond is where the title comes from. It’s a big deal diamond that Calli and a team of runners need to transport, and during the journey it’s stored in... well, a box IN A POCKET. Neat title tie-in. A whole lot of danger and drama happen enroute to their destination, and of course it’s got something to do with this diamond. Something interesting happens with it in the end that will change Calli’s life. Pretty neat trick with a conveniently untainted family lineage.
Overall, this book’s okay. I’m not a particular fan but am mildly curious about what the end goal of this series is.
The compound is full of mean girls and boys and honestly just plays up the high school jerk jock stereotype. Everyone bullies the new girl, avoids her, and gives her dirty looks all the time. Strange when the ages range from 13-23 in that place. You’d think there’d be some individuals who don’t give in to that hive mentality. At least some of them become nicer people later but only after Calli’s powers manifest.
Calli herself is rather ordinary but it’s nice that she doesn’t let everyone else bring her down. She’s not the most gifted runner (indeed, she’s actually had some help in that department), but her personality and strength of character makes her stand out to key people. Maybe that’s why everyone else is such a jerk. Personally, I’d have liked her to stand out despite everyone else being a douche (would’ve toned down the Mary Sue vibes) but whatever. And perhaps also with fewer powers shuffling around. I get why it happens, but there’s just too much thrown in to make her “better” than the rest.
The relationship between Calli and Chris is somewhat reminiscent of Bella and Edward in that the boy seems to strongly dislike the gulf but really he’s just confused and resisting his strong feelings of attraction. Similarly, they fight then cuddle up pretty quickly. There’s also a bit of an age gap here, but it’s not as big as B&E. It’s still a touch uncomfortable though because if anything really happened it’d be illegal. Thankfully Chris practices restraint and it’s possible the romance won’t fully bloom until Calli’s an adult in the sequels.
The Sanguine Diamond is where the title comes from. It’s a big deal diamond that Calli and a team of runners need to transport, and during the journey it’s stored in... well, a box IN A POCKET. Neat title tie-in. A whole lot of danger and drama happen enroute to their destination, and of course it’s got something to do with this diamond. Something interesting happens with it in the end that will change Calli’s life. Pretty neat trick with a conveniently untainted family lineage.
Overall, this book’s okay. I’m not a particular fan but am mildly curious about what the end goal of this series is.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 19, 2018
I took an instant disliking to Callie, the main character of this book. Which is not good in any case, but is made all the worse by the fact that the story is told from the first person perspective and so I was stuck in her head the entire way through the book. Callie is this oh so average, plain, and ordinary girl who is yet so much more mature and smarter then her peers, who to hear her talk are all a bunch of airheads and dumb jocks. And yet, she actually says that she doesn't like any of the boys in her school because they aren't good looking.
So anyway, Callie suddenly finds herself with these remarkable abilities out of the blue and she gets whisked away to this compound filled with all these athletic and extremely attractive people, who she instantly assumes are complete and total jerks. And then Callie, who is at this compound with all these well trained Runners who have been studying their abilities for years, for all of a day, gets sent out on a vitally important, life threatening mission. Not only is she part of the team, she's actually one of the leaders for reasons that make absolutely no sense at all.
Then there is the 'romance' between Callie and the hyper gorgeous Chris. Talk about
insta-love. They know each other a total of three days before they are so committed to one another they will willing die to protect each other. This is, of course, after Chris has treated Callie like dirt since the moment they met. But that's okay, because he is really hot.
But I think the worst part of the book is the plot itself, which is incredibly thin and even though there is more of an explanation by the time you get to the end of the book, it still makes little sense.
I struggled to read this book all the way through. It had some interesting points with the clans, and the powers, and these different things, but it was poorly executed. And I didn't connect to any of the characters enough to care what happened to them, which to me is the most important aspect of a story.
So anyway, Callie suddenly finds herself with these remarkable abilities out of the blue and she gets whisked away to this compound filled with all these athletic and extremely attractive people, who she instantly assumes are complete and total jerks. And then Callie, who is at this compound with all these well trained Runners who have been studying their abilities for years, for all of a day, gets sent out on a vitally important, life threatening mission. Not only is she part of the team, she's actually one of the leaders for reasons that make absolutely no sense at all.
Then there is the 'romance' between Callie and the hyper gorgeous Chris. Talk about
insta-love. They know each other a total of three days before they are so committed to one another they will willing die to protect each other. This is, of course, after Chris has treated Callie like dirt since the moment they met. But that's okay, because he is really hot.
But I think the worst part of the book is the plot itself, which is incredibly thin and even though there is more of an explanation by the time you get to the end of the book, it still makes little sense.
I struggled to read this book all the way through. It had some interesting points with the clans, and the powers, and these different things, but it was poorly executed. And I didn't connect to any of the characters enough to care what happened to them, which to me is the most important aspect of a story.
January 7, 2019
Diamond In My Pocket is an amazing book written by Lorena Angell. I am not sure how I found this gem, but I am so happy I did. I pretty much read this book not knowing what I should expect and was so happy with it. The plot was very unique and different. The author came up with an imaginative plot that had me glued to the pages from the very beginning. I had a difficult time putting this book down and pretty much read it in one sitting! There were some nice twists in this book I didn't see coming and some nice secrets that the author unraveled beautifully when the time was just right!
The pace of the book was perfect with a constant flow of things happening that made this book a true joy to read. I never felt like the book was dragging out nor did I ever feel like the author was trying to rush me through the story.
Calli is an adorable character and I for one can't wait to read more of her story! So I had to read some of the other reviews and saw that Calli is getting a lot of critique, for her being so perfect from going from human to having all these powers and being more perfect than perfect. So taking that into account, and looking back on how I feel about the book, I don't think it changes a thing. Actually I feel Calli handled it well. I see how she struggled with the constant change of her powers, her struggle on how to deal with especially the healing powers, on how to handle the final show down and how to use all she has at her disposal to figure out what is right and what she should or shouldn't do and I find that the author did quite well depict that struggle and build her character nicely in that part of the book.
Chris was probably a weaker character although I did like him. The other characters also did not get as much character development but there is only so much an author can do. So yes, all in all I really liked this book a lot.
The rest of this series is on my reading list, which is very long right now so it may take a little bit to get to the others, but I will, there is not doubt about that one.
The pace of the book was perfect with a constant flow of things happening that made this book a true joy to read. I never felt like the book was dragging out nor did I ever feel like the author was trying to rush me through the story.
Calli is an adorable character and I for one can't wait to read more of her story! So I had to read some of the other reviews and saw that Calli is getting a lot of critique, for her being so perfect from going from human to having all these powers and being more perfect than perfect. So taking that into account, and looking back on how I feel about the book, I don't think it changes a thing. Actually I feel Calli handled it well. I see how she struggled with the constant change of her powers, her struggle on how to deal with especially the healing powers, on how to handle the final show down and how to use all she has at her disposal to figure out what is right and what she should or shouldn't do and I find that the author did quite well depict that struggle and build her character nicely in that part of the book.
Chris was probably a weaker character although I did like him. The other characters also did not get as much character development but there is only so much an author can do. So yes, all in all I really liked this book a lot.
The rest of this series is on my reading list, which is very long right now so it may take a little bit to get to the others, but I will, there is not doubt about that one.
June 20, 2022
3.5/5.
A Diamond In My Pocket begins just after sixteen-year-old Cali Courtnae has broken the world record of the 100m sprint at her high school’s track race. She has run under 10 seconds and is now the fastest human on Earth. Before she knows it, she is whisked away to a supposedly private training facility where she wil train for the Olympics.
Little does Cali know, however, the training facility doesn’t exist and she has suddenly been thrown into a world where the people around her also have special running abilities, among other powers, and she is now considered a Runner – a group of people who travel across countries delivering important messages to important people.
Within a day, Cali is picked to transport a diamond to the Death Clan in exchange for the prisoners the clan is holding captive. New to her abilities, and with no one supposedly wanting anything to do with her, Cali doesn’t know what is to come… until she does.
This book defied my expectations. Was it the best thing I’ve ever read? No, but it certainly held my interest enough for me to keep reading and to want to read the rest of the series down the track. I really enjoyed the narrator and thought she did a good job at portraying the voice of a sixteen-year-old girl who has just been told she has superhuman abilities.
I liked the dynamic between the characters, and while many, if not all, aspects, were predictable and filled with tropes, I found it enjoyable nonetheless. It isn’t often that I read books that are self-published, but I found A Diamond In My Pocket to be well put together and original enough that it stood out from other books.
A Diamond In My Pocket begins just after sixteen-year-old Cali Courtnae has broken the world record of the 100m sprint at her high school’s track race. She has run under 10 seconds and is now the fastest human on Earth. Before she knows it, she is whisked away to a supposedly private training facility where she wil train for the Olympics.
Little does Cali know, however, the training facility doesn’t exist and she has suddenly been thrown into a world where the people around her also have special running abilities, among other powers, and she is now considered a Runner – a group of people who travel across countries delivering important messages to important people.
Within a day, Cali is picked to transport a diamond to the Death Clan in exchange for the prisoners the clan is holding captive. New to her abilities, and with no one supposedly wanting anything to do with her, Cali doesn’t know what is to come… until she does.
This book defied my expectations. Was it the best thing I’ve ever read? No, but it certainly held my interest enough for me to keep reading and to want to read the rest of the series down the track. I really enjoyed the narrator and thought she did a good job at portraying the voice of a sixteen-year-old girl who has just been told she has superhuman abilities.
I liked the dynamic between the characters, and while many, if not all, aspects, were predictable and filled with tropes, I found it enjoyable nonetheless. It isn’t often that I read books that are self-published, but I found A Diamond In My Pocket to be well put together and original enough that it stood out from other books.
November 9, 2018
Goodness, this book try's SO HARD to... well, it just TRIES TOO HARD.
The characters were flat. The plot line was hanging by a thread. The h was supposed to be ALL THAT, so much so that she wasn't all that much at all... not to mention the damage it did to all the other characters that not one of these 'supernatural's' could join the frigging dots together or add 1+1 about what was happening with her. I mean... she's a strange one (to them) who obviously doesn't match their moulds, and she's very low on the 'super' scale... then the day they pick up the diamond, she starts being enhanced in a way no ones ever heard of before... and NO ONE AT ALL SEES A LINK HERE????? Hell, even if they didn't figure out EXACTLY what's going on, there was no way to miss her up swing with the timing. But no, they all went from super bullies either ignoring her existence or hassling her, straight to 'you're awesome and we all wanna be your besties since you're so awesome we couldn't even hope to be you when we grow up!' The romance was pretty much a joke that failed every 'test' thrown at it, because you know... The H was, I wince to say, pathetic. Not sure he could find a backbone with a map and a compass.
The characters were flat. The plot line was hanging by a thread. The h was supposed to be ALL THAT, so much so that she wasn't all that much at all... not to mention the damage it did to all the other characters that not one of these 'supernatural's' could join the frigging dots together or add 1+1 about what was happening with her. I mean... she's a strange one (to them) who obviously doesn't match their moulds, and she's very low on the 'super' scale... then the day they pick up the diamond, she starts being enhanced in a way no ones ever heard of before... and NO ONE AT ALL SEES A LINK HERE????? Hell, even if they didn't figure out EXACTLY what's going on, there was no way to miss her up swing with the timing. But no, they all went from super bullies either ignoring her existence or hassling her, straight to 'you're awesome and we all wanna be your besties since you're so awesome we couldn't even hope to be you when we grow up!' The romance was pretty much a joke that failed every 'test' thrown at it, because you know... The H was, I wince to say, pathetic. Not sure he could find a backbone with a map and a compass.
July 22, 2023
The Unaltered Series, Book 1
Calli is an ordinary girl, not very athletic, until one day at a track meet she feels odd, and suddenly becomes incredibly, unnaturally fast. A woman appears from nowhere and claims to be an Olympic recruiter. Before she knows it, Calli is on a plane heading to a training center ... but discovers quickly the truth is far from the path to the Olympics.
She is despised by her roommate and nearly everyone at this place, despite her newly awakened paranormal gifts. Various anomalies puzzle her teachers. Callie slowly learns the history and the rules of the Altered, people in a secretive society, divided into groups according to their gifts. When she is chosen for a pivotal mission, Calli is as stunned as everyone else. Especially because Chris, a leader among the students at the center, is both attracted to and repelled by her. The constantly mixed signals from everyone around her frustrate her. Then a mysterious woman appears and entrusts Calli with protecting a diamond unlike any other, and everything and everyone around Calli begin to change.
The question is if she will survive her dangerous mission, or betray these people who haven't exactly welcomed her among them with open arms.
Calli is an ordinary girl, not very athletic, until one day at a track meet she feels odd, and suddenly becomes incredibly, unnaturally fast. A woman appears from nowhere and claims to be an Olympic recruiter. Before she knows it, Calli is on a plane heading to a training center ... but discovers quickly the truth is far from the path to the Olympics.
She is despised by her roommate and nearly everyone at this place, despite her newly awakened paranormal gifts. Various anomalies puzzle her teachers. Callie slowly learns the history and the rules of the Altered, people in a secretive society, divided into groups according to their gifts. When she is chosen for a pivotal mission, Calli is as stunned as everyone else. Especially because Chris, a leader among the students at the center, is both attracted to and repelled by her. The constantly mixed signals from everyone around her frustrate her. Then a mysterious woman appears and entrusts Calli with protecting a diamond unlike any other, and everything and everyone around Calli begin to change.
The question is if she will survive her dangerous mission, or betray these people who haven't exactly welcomed her among them with open arms.
February 23, 2020
This is a YA fantasy novel that features Callie, a teen who develops superpowers of mind reading, speed, and more in the first in a series of novels.
After breaking a 100 meter speed record, Callie is approached by a woman, who convinces her parents to let her train for the Olympics. Unbeknownst to them, she isn't what she professes to be, and Callie becomes a Runner, one of a number of power-infused Clans. As a human, she isn't accepted by the other Runners and must make her way as this outlier called a muck.
Despite this, she and two male Runners, Justin and Chris, are chosen to lead a group of runners in a specific task. Will they succeed or will they be destroyed by those chasing them? Will they succeed or die trying?
Fraught with danger during this task, there are betrayals; there are love interests; and there are all of the teenage angsty moments that occur with most teens.
After breaking a 100 meter speed record, Callie is approached by a woman, who convinces her parents to let her train for the Olympics. Unbeknownst to them, she isn't what she professes to be, and Callie becomes a Runner, one of a number of power-infused Clans. As a human, she isn't accepted by the other Runners and must make her way as this outlier called a muck.
Despite this, she and two male Runners, Justin and Chris, are chosen to lead a group of runners in a specific task. Will they succeed or will they be destroyed by those chasing them? Will they succeed or die trying?
Fraught with danger during this task, there are betrayals; there are love interests; and there are all of the teenage angsty moments that occur with most teens.
November 21, 2018
Am between "it was okay" and "liked it". The story concept was liked but the main character wasn't. I dislike when a character is considered normal yet the hot popular guy falls for her (so cliche and wouldn't happen in real life as easily as it does in books). Another dislike is how quickly her peers went from snubbing her to accepting her/seeking out her approval (something else that wouldn't happen easily in real life). The layers of secrets & betrayals sometimes made this hard to follow but there was a spark of something that kept me reading until the end. Calli is a diamond in the rough and hopefully with time/maturity and a bit of perspective, will become a character one likes and actively roots for.
March 5, 2019
I love this book! Just read it on my tablet, and couldn't put it down. The book is book one in a big series. It's called "Diamond in My Heart" by Lorena Angell, and is a fantasy novel. This book is about a girl named Calli Courtnae, who lives as a small girl in a big world. She wants to become a doctor, like her parents and is kind of a nerd. She has one good friend and is mostly involved in studying. That all changed when she broke a world record at a track meet and got to go to the runners clan. She then went on a mission to return a diamond and got it stuck in her heart. My favorite part of this book is when Calli saves Chris at the waterfall. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes to read. So Good!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 26, 2021
Intriguing world
I found this book intriguing. The main character has tons of "powers" and she matters them quickly. That part lines up with most books within the genre. But she acquires them in a unique manner.
Others around her each have one unique ability, and their ability lines up fairly well with nature.
The plot was interesting, and certainly helped set the main character up for the books that follow. That said, this is a complete book on its own. No cliffhanger ending, praise God! I can't stand those.
Editing was good. In general, I'd recommend it. I'll eventually get around to reading the next book in the series. I'm curious to know where things will go next.
I found this book intriguing. The main character has tons of "powers" and she matters them quickly. That part lines up with most books within the genre. But she acquires them in a unique manner.
Others around her each have one unique ability, and their ability lines up fairly well with nature.
The plot was interesting, and certainly helped set the main character up for the books that follow. That said, this is a complete book on its own. No cliffhanger ending, praise God! I can't stand those.
Editing was good. In general, I'd recommend it. I'll eventually get around to reading the next book in the series. I'm curious to know where things will go next.
September 5, 2017
Supernaturals, super powers, magical diamonds, well that is just a piece of all that happens. This book jumps right into the action and takes off running. There are many things in this book that although it makes for good reading just doesn't make sense. It is a good read and with this being a new writer to me I plan on trying more but this author wants you to have an open mind for some of the things she does and just flow with it. In paranormal books that isn't really a stretch normally but there's plenty of action and chaos.
November 22, 2018
DNF. Too many problems from the get go. First, her very smart parents just let her go with a total stranger, to another state, without ever investigating the woman or the so called school!?! Hell nah.
Second. She's in the meeting with Clara and guy walks in, never introduced, yet she miraculously knows his name before introduced.
Third, She just seems too good to be true, yet she's the oh so mousey one while everyone else are "the beautiful people".
Feels like the author really tried to hard and came up short in this one.
Second. She's in the meeting with Clara and guy walks in, never introduced, yet she miraculously knows his name before introduced.
Third, She just seems too good to be true, yet she's the oh so mousey one while everyone else are "the beautiful people".
Feels like the author really tried to hard and came up short in this one.
April 6, 2020
Sixteen year old Calli takes part in a 100 metre race and suddenly breaks both the men's and women's world records.
She gets invited to a training camp and finds out that there are clans of gifted people - runners, hunters, healers, and more - who are able to do things far beyond the abilities of the ordinary humans.
Not all the clans are good. Calli and some of the other Runners are given a special task which will help to recover some abducted clans-people.
Easy book to read - nothing very violent, light romance. Enjoyable.
She gets invited to a training camp and finds out that there are clans of gifted people - runners, hunters, healers, and more - who are able to do things far beyond the abilities of the ordinary humans.
Not all the clans are good. Calli and some of the other Runners are given a special task which will help to recover some abducted clans-people.
Easy book to read - nothing very violent, light romance. Enjoyable.
May 5, 2025
I feel the attraction to a story about a secret group of people with great power. I did really enjoy the story. Although I can not really understand how easily it was for Callie to turn from a shy, regular teenager to a natural born leader. The transition was too fast, and it should have been supported by a background story or some explanation. Otherwise, I really loved everything else. The discovery of the powers, the rought beginning in the academy, and the sudden turn of events. It kept me interested from beginning to end. the surprising ending was extraordinary.
November 28, 2018
Calli, a high school student runs the best race of her life and is wisked to a "Olympics Camp" for training. She finds out that the camp holds really fast runners and people with amazing powers. Calli is chosen for a special secret mission to deliver a package to a group that is holding some kidnapped members hostage.
Lots of teenage angst and suspense with supernatural powers thrown in for extra drama.
I enjoyed this book with its cosmic influence.
Lots of teenage angst and suspense with supernatural powers thrown in for extra drama.
I enjoyed this book with its cosmic influence.
February 26, 2019
I found this to be a unique take on the supernatural/superhero YA genre.
The plot is good overall.
The characters could use more development and the protagonist seems too sure of herself for someone who has only been in this new world for a few days.
The villains of the story are all a little inept, more so than would be expected.
I quite enjoyed the story.
I received a complimentary copy from VRO in return for an honest review.
The plot is good overall.
The characters could use more development and the protagonist seems too sure of herself for someone who has only been in this new world for a few days.
The villains of the story are all a little inept, more so than would be expected.
I quite enjoyed the story.
I received a complimentary copy from VRO in return for an honest review.
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