Entangled

Entangled #1

by A.R. Capetta

Alone was the note Cade knew best. It was the root of all her chords. Seventeen-year-old Cade is a fierce survivor, solo in the universe with her cherry-red guitar. Or so she thought. Her world shakes apart when a hologram named Mr. Niven tells her she was created in a lab in the year 3112, then entangled at a subatomic level with a boy named Xan.
   Cade’s quest to locate Xan joins her with an array of outlaws—her first friends—on a galaxy-spanning adventure. And once Cade discovers the wild joy of real connection, there’s no turning back.

Genres: Science Fiction, Young Adult, Dystopia, Fantasy, Romance, Unfinished, Aliens

336 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2013

About the author

A. R. Capetta (all pronouns), the author of Echo After Echo and The Lost Coast, has lived in Austin and worked as a professional baker and holds a master of fine arts in writing for children and young adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts. A. R. Capetta is married to author Cory McCarthy, and they live in Vermont with their young baker.

Reviews

[Lindsay · Rating 2 out of 5]

In a universe where humans are reviled because of their inability to cope with extended space travel, a human girl discovers that she might be the answer to humanity's problems, but first she needs to save the boy.

Cade grows up without memory of her early life on a planet that she hates and where she can barely make a living. That all changes when she's given some insight into her origins and she sets off to rescue Xan, her quantum entangled partner. In the process she joins up with a ship, a living ship. Full of strange alien life forms. Help me. Listen, please ... oops, no that's Farscape.

That is where this is going though. It's an attempt at a YA literary version of Farscape or Firefly, which is admirable as both of those are great, and so are The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet and Fortune's Pawn which do exactly the same thing much, much better.

The ideas are more or less ok (although the science is execrable*), but the execution is just really lacking. I can clearly see an outline of a book here, but a lot of the beats don't follow. For instance, there's a character that Cade meets early on who is initially hostile, then feels sympathetic for Cade, then is sort of friendly, then is extremely hostile, then friendly again and then refers her and Cade's relationship as "best friends" all in a period of no more than a few days. I get where the transitions in these emotions are meant to happen in the book, but they're just not actually on the page and the plot just marches on as if they'd happened.

* The science. The science. Quantum entanglement does not work like this. Black holes do not work like this. We're pretty sure dark energy doesn't work like this (although I'll give her a pass, we don't know very much about it). We're very sure that the mechanism for quantum entanglement has nothing to do with dark energy. Asteroids don't work like that. We're pretty sure humans don't work like this.

Seriously, I have seen better science in science fiction romance books. (And they frequently postulate unassisted human/alien fertility!)

[Angie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received an ARC through NetGalley.

The blurb for Entangled seriously had me going “huh?” And that is exactly how I still felt at the end of it. That was just weird, and mostly not in a good way. I’m also terribly confused about almost everything that happened. Entangled is the bizarre Sci-Fi adventure of Cade, a human girl with her guitar trapped on some alien planet. After a show, Cade learns that her particles are entangled with a boy’s after they were experimented on as babies, and now he needs her help to avoid being tortured and killed by their enemies. Cade sets off on an epic space quest to find her “brother” since she’s glad to finally not be alone in the universe anymore. Along the way she meets new friends, some aliens, and of course those aforementioned enemies. While the story is exciting and entertaining at times, I mostly didn’t care, since I was more concerned with all of my questions about the future it’s set in.

What I did like about Entangled was the aliens. They don’t play a huge part in the overall plot, but I liked them. There are many different kinds, and for the most part they don’t like humans. I’m not completely sure why they don’t like humans, but they don’t. Not all of them are bad though. Cade does meet two in particular who were great! One is a kind of living space ship actually, and I thought she was really cute. It’s quite imaginative and unique. I also like the ideas the author presented, even if I didn’t fully understand them. Quantum Entanglement is an interesting concept and is the backbone of the story, but I wish it had been explained more. Not necessarily what it is, since I did follow that, but I wasn’t clear on what scientists were trying to achieve with it, and why they had enemies so set against it.

I guess my main issue with Entangled was the world building. I was confused from page one, and was in a constant state of confusion for most of the book. It isn’t until half way in that we’re told why humans are on other planets to begin with. This is something that had been nagging at me, since the aliens really don’t like humans, so why are they there? And secondly, it seems like most humans come down with “spacesickness” and are kept in overcrowded, quarantine type places. The explanation we do get didn’t feel complete though, especially when we know that Cade and Xan’s entanglement was suppose to help with spacesickness. How? I have no idea. Nothing really fit together for me. By the end I was even more unclear about the purpose of entanglement, and why Cade needed to rescue Xan, and why he was kidnapped in the first place. Basically, I think the plot was kind of a mess.

Entangled is an interesting book that just did not work for me. I don’t deny that there are a lot of fun and unique elements to the story, but as a whole, none of them fully fit together. Cade is kind of bumbling through space, picking up bits of information here and there, but what is true and what is lies? I still don’t know upon finishing. Cade was also a hard character to connect to and care for. She’s not a bad person, but I felt very disconnected from her. I also didn’t understand why she kept randomly getting half-naked. Was that really necessary, other than for shock value? I don’t know. Entangled was just a weird mess, but I’m sure it’ll work for a specific audience. That audience was unfortunately not me.

Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.

[Christina (A Reader of Fictions)]

Pages Read: 7 (so take my opinion for what it's worth, which is not much)

DNFing because I don't care for the writing style or the way the world building is being shoved in my face. It's a stream of places, terms, etc that have no meaning to me. Early reviews have not been encouraging, and, with quite a few books waiting, I'm moving on to something more immediately compelling.

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

неоднозначное впечатление

с одной стороны - после высокого и городского фэнтэзи space is refreshing. автор точно фанат космических одиссей - при желании можно вспомнить и притянуть ВСЁ, от Лекса до Андромеды (ооо, сериалы 90-х), но самое главное желание, конечно, поминать Firefly



компания outlaws мчится через Вселенную навстречу приключениям, Земли уже нет, и человечество рассеяно по каким-то задворкам, никому не нужное. то есть, в принципе, автор постаралась сделать все, чтобы у поклонника файрфлая что-то где-то да защемило



с другой стороны - самое слабое место истории это мотивация героини. не вдаваясь в спойлеры, скажу, что мотивация херачить через Вселенную появляется слишком внезапно и поэтому слишком неправдоподобно. отдельно слабовато на мой взгляд научное обоснование происходящего - по чистому совпадению, я читала на выходных текст, в котором упоминалось квантовое переплетение (entanglement), и вот что-то не особо на него смахивало описанное в книжке. описанное, к слову, больше подошло бы как раз какому-то волшебному фэнтэзи - тем более, я только в этом году прочитала две книжки, где у героев была схожая ситуация (чтение мыслей/эмоций друг друга, обмен энергией), и магическое объяснение звучало гораздо правдоподобнее, чем вся вот эта квантовая теория

как бы то ни было - судя по концу первой книги, во второй мотивация героини должна измениться, и меня интересует, каков новый план. так что пойду читать вторую

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Summary:
Cade just wants to spend her life playing her guitar. Unfortunately, she finds out that she is tied to Xan and is fated to save the human race. In this space related adventure, Cade makes some new friends who make decisions to change the possible outcomes of the future.

My thoughts:
My summary is rather short because there are a lot of things within the plot that are best just to be read. As in all science fiction, the intricacies are harder to explain rather than just to read and see them build upon one another. Cade is a good character. She is a loner that builds trust in other people and really becomes an awesome friend. While I don't understand some of the decisions that she makes, I really did enjoy her general attitude. Her tie in to music brings an extra element to the story that I enjoyed.
The real downfall of this book is the world building. In a good science fiction or fantasy novel, the author must bring us into the world that they are creating. It's important to tell the reader what is going on around us in an unfamiliar setting. Other than being in space, there really is no reason that the world is in the state that it is in. Not until about 3/4 of the way through the book are back stories and history are revealed about the world that we are in. It left me feeling out of place. I was building a world in my head that didn't necessarily go with the novel and was based mostly upon movies. I decided that since it was a space related book, I was going with a Star Trek theme. This doesn't really fit with some of the characters or basic knowledge of space in general, but it gave me some visual, which the author did not.

[Sarah Blincoe · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn't a big fan of how the plot of this book ended out because it had a really awesome concept budding. Entangled is this new way of being born without parents and the search to find the other half that Cade was entangled with. It was not a very engaging adventure and I almost did not complete it. There are way better books in the science fiction genre that are actually worth reading

[Abigail Singer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked up this book at BEA 2013 and was excited as it was hailed as a the best "to read" book for a Joss Whedon fan and Browncoats especially. However, "Entangled" failed to make the cut for me.

What I found lacking though was the story itself. There is the basic girl finds out about a missing half who's in danger and she MUST get to him to rescue him before he dies. This is a good motivator to get a loner girl like Cade to move. It's an old trope but can be done quite well. But She's such a strong character it's a little jarring that she drops everything for a boy she's never met. She knows they're entangled and that means their minds are linked across the universe. I'll go with that in the beginning, figuring what it means to be entangled will be explained along the way. Only... it never really is. Or if it is, I missed it. So for more than half the book it seems like she's just acting for a boy. I'm fine with the mental connection but I'm not sure later why she's embarrassed about kissing Rennik while Xan is unconscious. I got the feeling that entanglement didn't mean they were lovers. It felt like it was more than that. Only, I never got the explanation of what it was and what it REALLY meant to the human race. I can see the implications music had and how the link kept her grounded, but what did it REALLY mean?

Cade is a strong character who is self sufficient, streetwise loner character with a gift of music. We get a good look at her world in the beginning and how humans are seen as less than worthy. I'd say Capetta's greatest gift in writing boils down to the diverse world building she's created. We not only see physical worlds that differ greatly from our own but the aliens that populate it are distinct and unique. Each one has a different way of viewing the world, my favourite being the Matalan, "a species of women who had some qualities of plants. They could photosynthesize and wore clothes spun with treads of sunlight over birch-pale, paper skin. This one rustles as she swept the floor. She grew purple flowers in her hair" (pg 30 ARC copy)

Capetta also has a gift of insinuating foreign words into dialogue without having to stop to explain what they mean. Examples of this are "dregs" and "spacecadet" this is something that's hard to do but she manages it quite well. The same goes for some of the science.

I also enjoyed the combination of music and science as the two are somehow linked with being human.

All in all, the scattering of humans across the universe and the fact that they're less than dirt reminded me more of "Titan AE" as opposed to "Firefly." It was only after considering this realization, that Joss Whedon wrote the screenplay to that. Joss' strengths have always been in unique worldbuilding as well as strong characterizations, both of which Capetta has in spades. But while Joss' stories are good, they aren't always the best, but we're willing to overlook the physical plot in exchange for the rest of the good stuff surrounds it. (For an example of this, think how much you liked "Avengers" and called it a good movie, and then sit back and think of what the actual plot of that movie is. The plot is really weak but we're willing to go with it because the characters are funny and awesome stuff happens. "Puny God" anyone?) The problem with "Entangled" for me was that it didn't quite make amazing enough characters and situations to allow the pitfalls for the plot to fade into the background.

I also found the action scenes muddled. One minute Cade is distraught about having to chuck Cherry Red, the ONE thing she owns and cares about, and the next minute she's willing to toss it without a second thought? What's the motivation here? And let's not get into the fact a second after that she seems to get away from her attacker and get on the ship. I found myself rereading this, and other scenes like it, over and over again wondering when we went from point A to point D.

I really wanted to like "Entangled" and I can see it's potential. For most of the book I was between 3 stars and 4 stars on it. (Shame I can't do 3.5 stars, that's what I would have given it.) I was set to give it 4 stars until I got to the end. The double, triple (not sure how much) deception with Xan and the Unmakers just got too muddled. We didn't know enough about Xan or maybe we knew a lot about him but not enough of the important stuff. His personality and who he was never got explained to us. Which is fine, Cade didn't know it either. But her reactions to Xan didn't seem right to me. I guess the entangled part of her made her latch to him, but again, without understanding truly what it meant to be entangled, how could I understand their bond.

I wish Amy Rose Capetta best of luck with this book,and future books. It's a nature of a person, to continue learning and this is only her first book. She has a lot of room to grow and I look forward to seeing it because she has the world and the characters, the exposition and plot just need some tweaking and it'll be great.

[Parallel Worlds · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entangled by Amy Rose Capetta
Intended Audience: YA
Sexual content: Mild
Ace/Genderqueer characters: None
Rating: PG
Writing style: 2/5
Likable characters: 3/5
Plot/Concepts: 3/5
Cade has been trying to drive the Noise out of her head for as long as she can remember, but the day it finally leaves is the day the holograph of a dead scientist informs her that she was raised as part of project QE, joined to another child via Quantum Entanglement. Now she must hurry to find her other half, Xan, or else she may lose the only person she’s ever been connected with.
I was pleasantly surprised by the setting of this book, which is reminiscent of Star Wars in the abundance of alien species. Due to their tendency to get “spacesick”—a terrible condition where the vastness of space results in a sort of psychosis—humans live as second-class citizens of the many worlds they’ve scattered to. Cade lives alone on a harsh desert planet, playing solo music at the local clubs to eke out a living. I enjoyed the fun and bizarre aspects, which set Engtangled somewhat apart from the typical YA Sci Fi novel being published these days.
The characters, too, were enjoyable, although many of them start out almost as archetypes: the tough girl with the electric guitar; the stoic alien; the bubbly girl who’s actually hiding something. Cade eventually joins the ragtag crew of a living ship named Renna, and despite herself and the instinctive drive she has to find Xan, she ends up making friends with most of them—which is a first for her. I was bracing myself for a heavy emphasis on her relationship with Xan, which would, I was sure, turn into a romance very quickly. But that’s not what happened. Although she can share thoughts, feelings, sounds and images with Xan, Cade spends most of the book physically separate from him and is forced to connect with other people in order to reach him. Along the way she also begins to discover her individual purpose in life, and realizes the importance of all different kinds of connections and relationships. She grows as a character in learning to trust others and find harmony with them, and the other characters learn to be patient with her shortcomings as well.
The writing style was the biggest thing that bothered me about this book. This author seriously abuses the one-sentence-paragraph “technique”, and also has a tendency to scatter obscure similes everywhere. The problem with the similes is not that they are obscure or original, as the images they evoke are usually pretty clear. The problem is that they make the reader pause to create a picture in moments when we should be so sucked in to the tension of the moment that we forget we are reading rather than experiencing what’s going on.
There is also the overuse of musical metaphors. Cade is a musician down to her very bones, and music is all that has kept her alive ever since she could remember. I understand why she might think about everything in terms of keys and chords and rhythms, but using that as a framework for every description got old pretty fast. There were also certain aspects of the plot which seemed a bit cheesy or overdone, but as the worst of these were part of a twist at the end, I feel much more forgiving toward them than I did at first.
On the whole, I enjoyed Entangled more than I expected. The ending was fairly open, so I wonder if there will be a sequel. If so, I wouldn’t mind finding out what happens next. Check out Entangled when it hits bookstore shelves, October 2013!

[Krys · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entangled is an upcoming debut by Amy Rose Capetta. I downloaded it on a whim through Netgalley several weeks ago. I didn’t expect to love this book, but I do. It’s shot up into my favourites for the year.

Cade has always fought against the Noise, an invasive force that pervades her consciousness. Armed with her guitar, Cherry-Red, and attitude she fends off the sounds as best as she can. When a hologram named Mr. Niven informs her that she was created by Firstbloom everything that Cade knows is turned upside down, including the Noise. Cade is Entangled to a man named Xan, bonded on a mental level to balance one another and reduce the Noise. Cade was the stronger of the pair and was allowed to leave Firstbloom but Xan was left behind in a coma for fifteen years. Now that Cade knows about Xan she vows to see him but Firstbloom was raided and Xan was taken and it’s up to Cade to get him back. With Cherry-Red in hand Cade takes off on a journey across the stars to find him.

There are many interesting elements that Capetta plays with in the book; themes of identity, sacrifice, fate, and betrayal. Contrasting to those are several harsh Scientific elements that give this novel an excellent flavour. It is, more or less, a quest book, but the journey is magical and profound, asking a constant “what if?”. Along the way Cade interacts, and befriends, a host of people. She opens up and learns who to trust, and who to fear. It takes her a long time to realize that these people are more than occupants in the living space ship that she has boarded. They are friends and confidants, family even, bonded through shared experiences and honour rather than by lab technology.

Cade is a great character, all harsh edges and witty banter. She’s the every person’s take-no-prisoners badass girl and I want to be friends with her. She’s one of those characters who sticks with you long after the book is done.

Capetta’s writing is what really sets this novel apart for me. Peppered with clever phraseology this novel stands on its own just for the language. She uses metaphors and similes in ways that I have never seen before, and I loved every bit of it.

I cannot recommend this book enough. Go buy yourself a copy now. It’s a fun, enjoyable, and witty romp across the universe and beyond.

5 out of 5 stars.

- review courtesy of www.bibliopunkkreads.com

[Dianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

As if being a teen doesn’t have enough stress, try it when you are alone in a dystopian world, hearing noises and voices in your head and discovering somewhere out in the universe, you are entangled with another being. Amy Rose Capetta’s Entangled is a new twist in the YA Dystopian/Sci-fi world with a colorful cast of characters that add to the intrigue of Cade’s quest. Her ability to build Cade's world and her character's feelings goes far to make Entangled an engaging read!

Entangled is the story of a young girl who learns to accept others into her world and trust in their friendship as she begins to discover who she is and her true purpose in life. One constant in Cade’s life was music with her guitar, so expect many musical musings from her, further developing her character as lonely, alone and isolated, making her transformation all that more impressive. It appears the important note is the journey, not the final destination, making a perfect set up for a sequel and more information on the mysterious Xan.

An ARC edition was provided by NetGalley and HMH Books for Young Readers in exchange for my honest review.

Publication Date: October 1, 2013
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers
ISBN: 0544087445 (Hardcover)
Number of Pages: 336
Genre: YA Paranormal/Sci-Fi
Rating: 4 Stars
Available From: Amazon / Barnes & Noble
For more reviews check out Tome Tender's Book Blog or find us on Facebook.

[Kristen Harvey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite a crazy ride of a space adventure with aliens, a living spaceship and music that means the world to the main character Cade. She's on an adventure to find her other half across the universe. I really loved the adventure and characters, especially the living ship.

[Jasmyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an amazing sci-fi adventure with a nice theory about music behind it. Cade is unique - she lives in a world filled with static, and only the right kind of music from her guitar can make it fade for a little while. Then one day she seems to break through and it all goes away - but a strange man shows up with a bit of a history lesson for her. The history of her life. And it isn't anything like what she thought.

She is one of a pair of babies - bonded in a strange new molecular way called entanglement. And her pair, Xan, is out there somewhere and she needs to find him before he is killed by the un-makers. The un-makers are a strange new race that Cade has never seen before, and they are after her. Her only hope is to trust in a strange group of new friends.

These new friends were amazingly written. They had such unique personalities and ways of looking at life. I loved how even the spaceship was portrayed - she was great! Their search for Xan leads to several little side adventures and new information about Cade's past. Each step closer, Cade manages to somehow unlock strange abilities that no one really knows how to control.

The ending was an odd mixture of sadness and hope. At one point in time, I thought this was going to be a tragedy, but the author managed to miraculously turn it around just in time. Not everyone comes out at the end unscathed, but their world is not a much better place because of what they've done.

*This book was received in exchange for an honest review*

- See more at: http://hotofftheshelves.blogspot.com/...

[Jenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was such a refreshing change from a lot of the young adult novels I've read as of late. Finally having a female character that wasn't self deprecating and relying on a man to fortify her worth was a much needed change of pace in this category of writing. That alone makes this book worth reading because it is different!

At first I was hesitant about the story with the way in which it opens; I wasn't sure it would be for me, but once I got a few chapters in to the novel I was very intrigued with the plot line. The sci-fi aspects of the story hooked me in and I enjoyed wrapping my mind around the main character's world. I wish there was more time spent explaining the relationship between Xan and Cadence in the concluding portions of the book because I felt that was a bit rushed, but that is my only negative thought about this novel. Also, the cover is really beautifully done.

I'd definitely recommend this book, particularly to young adult female readers, because the main character is someone that girls can actually look up to, unlike a lot of the current female characters portrayed in young adult 'cult' novels.

[E · Rating 3 out of 5]

"It's like Firefly, and the main character has an electric guitar," was what I heard about this book at BEA, so I was absolutely up for this.

It lived up to its promise. A fun science fiction adventure, with the promised guitar, interesting alien races, menacing bad guys and a good ensemble spaceship crew. I'm a big fan of some of the perils the worldbuilding creates.
Though on reflection, I think it was more reminiscent of Farscape than Firefly. In a way that worked for me.

Thing that didn't altogether work: the central conceit of "Entangled," and what that means when two people are "entangled"... got a little murky for me. I wasn't sure what it actually meant in terms of powers conferred on people, and had some trouble decoding what it meant as a relationship: siblings? lovers? Although the events of the plot don't clearly telegraph a sequel (which is a huge point in this book's favor, set against most of the rest of YA lit, lately), I wonder if a sequel might more clearly explain how someone who is "entangled" can use that in this universe.

[Cheryl · Rating 1 out of 5]

First I was attracted to this book by the cover and then by the concept of the story. Sadly, my joy quickly dissipated. If hearing a change in the music is Cade's gift and how she connects with Xan, then this is truly sad. I know I did not read long enough for me to really experience the connection that Cade shared with Xan, however I just could not put myself through finishing this book.

I agree with the readers that the author was descriptive in her writing but at the same time, I found that the author was vague on the characters. She was descriptive about the world that Cade came from but not really why Cade was gifted. Like even when Cade was having a conversation with another person in the book, that person was vague in their answers. So I quickly grew bored thus due to my lack of character development and connection.

[Forever Young Adult]

Graded By: Savannah
Cover Story: Mostly Harmless
BFF Charm: Shiny
Swoonworthy Scale: 5
Talky Talk: Life, the Universe, and Everything
Bonus Factors: Lovable Misfits
Anti-Bonus Factor: Bistromatics (i.e., Seriously Sci-Fi)
Relationship Status: So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish

Read the full book report here.

[Kristen · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is really more of a 2.5 star, since it had a pretty strong beginning and I was interested enough in the main character to keep reading until the end. However, I found the writing style fairly clunky and was really disappointed in the ending. It's also a bit of an odd duck; I can't think of any good read-a-likes.

[starryeyedjen]

Touted as "Star Wars meets Graceling". Um, yes, PLEASE!

[Robyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

A story best enjoyed without thinking about it too hard. I liked the main character, but found it uneven.

[Joel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entangled by Amy Rose Capetta is a story about Cadence and her subatomic connection to a boy named Xan, who is in danger. Cade is an electric guitar player, which leads to suffering from a debilitating meantal static only when she plays a solo. One day, after Cade’s performance, she meets up with a holographic scientist that reaveals to her that she was created in a laboratory from another planet, and about her connection to Xan. The connection alleviates the Noise, but it also places Xan in grave danger from the Unmakers. Joining forces with a band of space outlaws and using the Xan connection for guidance, Cade attempts to rescue Xan from Hades, an area of space littered with black holes. On the journey, Cade learns that she may hold the key that will cure humans from the mentally incapacitating spacesickness that has plagued them since Earth’s destruction years earlier. Cade’s evolution from a loner to a friend is predictable, though her nonverbal connection with Renna, the living spaceship, is somewhat more inventive. However, Cade rarely interacts with additional creatures that are dramatically nonhuman, a missed opportunity considering the futuristic space setting. The largely unremarkable prose becomes more spirited during the descriptions of Cade’s musical talents. I would recommend to this book to someone who might enjoy science fiction.

[Megan Qualls · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was very cool to read a sci-fi novel with a strong foundation in music. At first, I didn't like the gritty, too-tough-for-the-world attitude of Cadence. However, I really enjoyed the friendships she forged. The whole book happens occurs within a span of days and passes quickly, especially when she finally meets her entangled partner. I was bittersweet about their relationship (but I'm rooting for Rennik! I can't wait to read the second book!)
I had the pleasure of meeting Amy Rose Capetta and her girlfriend, Cori McCarthy (who is also an author), at the Vegas Vally Book Fair in 2016. I absolutely loved talking to them and getting advice as an aspiring author!

[Cortney · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved this book. I loved the entire idea behind it and the way the story was moving. Until the ending. I have NEVER not finished a series of books. If I start a series, I finish it all the way through. The ending of Entangled was so unexpected and different than what I wanted to happen that I never want to finish it. It has been a few years since I’ve read it, so I might be willing to reread it and give the next book a try, but I am hesitant considering how mad it made me in the past.

[Savannah Newman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! "Entangled" was a fast paced read and very thrilling. I'm not very "into" space related stories, but this story from Anne Capetta had me trailing after Cade's galactic journey as fast as I had time to spare from my "real life". Thoroughly enjoyed and can't wait to read the next book!

[Sara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Found the writing style to be very confusing.

[Heather Taylor · Rating 1 out of 5]

I got 20% in and realized I didn't care about any of it so I didn't finish.

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I can’t believe she did all of that for Xan to commit suicide at the end...

[Emma · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF
I thought I was going to read the whole duology, but after putting the first book down for a while, I just lost momentum. I don’t feel drawn back in by either the story or the characters.

[Jackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book Info

Kindle Edition, 336 pages
Expected publication: October 1st 2013 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for Children
ASIN B00AUZS6E2
Source:Netgalley EARC


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BOOK SYNOPSIS

Alone was the note Cade knew best. It was the root of all her chords.

Seventeen-year-old Cade is a fierce survivor, solo in the universe with her cherry-red guitar. Or so she thought. Her world shakes apart when a hologram named Mr. Niven tells her she was created in a lab in the year 3112, then entangled at a sub-atomic level with a boy named Xan.

Cade’s quest to locate Xan joins her with an array of outlaws—her first friends—on a galaxy-spanning adventure. And once Cade discovers the wild joy of real connection, there’s no turning back.

My Thoughts

First have to say that the cover caught my eye on this one and that led me to reading the book synopsis and a few readers thoughts on this book which hooked me even more so when the publisher okayed my request for a copy of an EARC on Netgalley it was a happy day!

Cade, short for Cadence, is a loner and a young teenage female whose talent on her guitar is the only thing keeping starvation at bay because the world she lives in is a harsh and unforgiving place set in the future on a planet that is barely inhabitable.

When we first meet Cade's character she comes across as not only alone but quite lost and lonely as well, not that she would admit to such things out loud to anyone. The story starts with her in a bar where she plays on her guitar every week, Cade is a favorite of the crowd and the emotion's that her music ignite in others are what keep her going when she feels at her lowest. That and the fact that when she totally gets into the music it helps blank the "noise" in her head that is a constant presence and has almost driven her to insanity as it grows in volume. It was a bit of a surprise to learn what caused the "noise" in Cade's mind, and for her the day it ended brought her less relief than she expected but instead started her on a mission that would end with surprising results.

This is a story that is so easy to connect with, Cade is on the other hand a bit of an enigma as she does not really allow the reader to get to know her well at first and it comes as a relief almost when her character finally becomes more open. I loved the pacing as we took the journey of discovery, both to locate Xan and Cade's journey inside, the unfolding of each new chapter brings a fresh look at just how isolated Cade has been and just how much she has missed out on in her early years.

The ragtag group of travelers, the "alive ship", the different outer space locations all feel familiar from other sic-fi adventures but at the same time they are unique to this book alone. I cried for Cade when she finally learned the complete truth about herself and about Xan, it was a sobering moment for her as she realized she no longer needed him but he would always need her and yet they could not share the life that he envisioned for them.

As sci-fi fantasy goes this one was a good example of diverse characters, the futuristic technology was well described, the different alien species introduced gave the story it's "fantasy" feel and as a whole it came together quite well with only a few odds and ends left unanswered by it's end. For those who enjoy characters who start out as pretty much "untouchable" both physically and emotionally but who have come completely out of their shell over the course of the story than you will have to meet Cade, plus who could resist a character whose world is seen in musical notes!

[EArc from Netgalley in exchange for honest review]

[Christa Seeley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review originally posted at More Than Just Magic

If there is one thing I adore it’s stories set in space. The reason for this is no mystery. It’s all because of Star Wars. I devoured the original movies as a kid. Watching them over and over again, falling asleep to my favourite scenes. Those movies had everything! Action, adventure, romance, battles, aliens, a bad ass princess. And best of all it took place in space.

There’s a lot of good YA science fiction out there but there isn’t a lot of YA set in space. So when I read about Entangled it was like my prayers were answered.

Entangled is a space adventure is every sense of the word. It’s an action packed journey across the stars and has some fascinating and unique characters (a.k.a aliens). But unlike some other sci-fi, which relies more heavily on technological, clinical writing, the prose in Entangled is gorgeous and poetic. I fell in love with some of the phrases, reading them over and over to try and imprint them in my brain. Amy Rose Capetta has a very lyrical style that is all her own. The downside to this style however is that sometimes I needed to re-read sections in order to completely understand what was happening. The more concrete details could get a little lost in the poetry of it all.

The heroine of this story is a young girl named Cade. Cade is an interesting and complex character. At first she starts out a little static. Rebel, musician, tough girl. Used to being on her own and likes it that way. But she soon becomes much more than that. Her wants and needs are extremely complex and don’t always follow a natural progression, which helps keep the reader on his/her toes. Where she was once only loyal to herself, as the story gain momentum she finds herself pulled in a number of directions, trying to balance new friends, a new mission, an entangled partner…all while still maintaining her own personality. Though readers may not be able to relate to her space travels I think many will connect with her struggled to balance her responsibilities and maintain her own identity in a world that doesn’t understand her.

Music is a huge part of Entangled. Cade is a a musician. She had played music her whole life to keep the “noise” at bay. It is what has allowed her to survive after years of being alone. I loved the way Capetta made music a part of Cade’s soul. It wasn’t just an accessory for her to carry around when convenient. It defined her. Phrases like “Cade’s body was a chant” or “With Cade’s heartbeat running triple-time…” demonstrated just how strong an impact music can have on a person. Capetta managed to create any entire musical style around Cade, without even mentioning any specific songs or notes.

Cade’s big problem (other than being alone in the world) is that she is entangled with a boy named Xan. The concept of being entangled may require you to suspend your disbelief a tad. It’s sort of scientific version of soul mates, which may make some readers cringe. It’s not very clear exactly how one is entangled, except that it occurs on the DNA level. However, I would hesitate to call Entangled a love story. Entangled and the l-word are not used interchangeably, though Cade shares a deep bond with Xan. To me it felt more like the bond between twins, rather than couples. I think the interpretation of what means to be entangled will vary from reader to reader.

Entangled was exactly the sci-fi adventure I had been looking for and then some. With beautiful prose and a fabulous lead character it is sure to find an audience. But with a unclear definition of what exactly it means to be entangled, it’s hard to say for sure who that audience will be.

[Clare dooley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book for an honest review. I give this book 4 $ $ $ $ on my blog http://mouseheadandtales@weebly.com .

TITLE: Entangled

Author: Amy Rose Capetta

GENRE: YA, Dystopian, Sci-fi

BRIEF SYNOPSIS: A pair of genetically altered children from a lab on the planet Firstbloom are "Entangled". The lab was raided, the scientists killed, and we begin the book through the eyes of Cadence.
Cadence a.k.a Cade are on a seedy planet where she lives alone in a bunker in the desert and lives for Saturday nights where she headlines at Club V, (a grimey club owned by a multi-limbed alien who doesn't pay & tricks talent into lifetime contracts) playing her only true love "cherry red" and singing to a mixed crowd of aliens, spacesick humans, as well as herself to tune out the white noise that she constantly hears inside her head.
During her set the white noise flickers off,giving solitary Cade a moment's respite from her lonely and painful existence. When Cade's set ends she goes back to her dressing room and is approached by one of the scientists from Firstbloom. Dr. Niven shows Cade part of the experiment. Finding out that she is Entangled to another person (enter Xan) who is the answer to stopping her solitude and painful existence,sends her on a high velocity and dangerous course to retrieving him and possibly saving what is left of the human race as well as maybe herself.

THE PLAYERS:
1.Cadence- hard rockin' , entangled human
2.Xan- test tube human entangled to Cadence
3.Lee- crew member of the Human Express
4.Gori- alien species: Darkrider,passenger on Renna
5.Rennik- alien species: Hatchum,pilot,outlaw
6.Renna: Rennik' s orbital, sentient space ship
7.Ayumi: human pilot, collecting and recording Earth's artifacts and information.
8. Cherry red- Cade' s electric guitar
9.Moon White- Cade's acoustic guitar
10.Unmakers: Villians

MOUSEHEADANDTALES REVIEW: I gave Entangled by Amy Rose Capetta 4 $$$$, or 4 * * * * !
I really enjoyed this book! There are characters you will love. Descriptions of what might be after we destroy our home planets....Beautifully described feelings that are so intertwined with music and the language music is unto itself was so raw.As a music lover myself I was really able to connect with the way Cadence thought,and the power that music holds.A magic of it's own.
Perfect for anyone who has ever felt alone. People who find it nearly impossible to hope,trust,or dream of a better way.
With a warning that all the "awesome" technology that have given people the opportunity to connect with others,can actually have the opposite effect in the long run.
This was a page turning adventure that I couldn't put down. It left me breathless,scared,happy,and ultimately satisfied with the outcome. I thought there was a great quote that this review would not be complete without...

" What you can do,what you choose to do,and what needs to be done" -Ayumi

Look for Entangled at book stores online or go to goodreads to find release dates and competing vendors.
I'd like to thank the publishers of Entangled for allowing me to review Amy Rose Capetta's novel.

Cover art: Stunning!
Thanks for reading! Please feel free to comment or post your own thoughts about this title.
Clare Dooley http://www.mouseheadandtales@weebly.com