Wordless

Words Made Flesh #1

by AdriAnne Strickland

“The Gods made their Words into flesh, giving privileged individuals the powers of creation...”

In Eden City, a member of the illiterate wordless class would never dream of meeting the all-powerful Words ... much less of running away with one. So when a gorgeous girl literally falls into his lap during a routine trash run, seventeen-year-old Tavin Barnes isn’t sure if it’s the luckiest or worst day of his life. That girl is Khaya, the Word of Life, who can heal a wound or command an ivy bush to devour a city block with ease. And yet she needs Tavin’s help.

By aiding Khaya’s escape from the seemingly idyllic confines of Eden City, Tavin unwittingly throws himself into the heart of a conflict that is threatening to tear the world apart. Eden City’s elite will stop at nothing to protect the shocking secret Khaya hides, and they enlist the other Words, each with their own frightening powers, to bring her back.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Dystopia, Science Fiction, Romance, Magic, Paranormal

336 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2014

About the author

AdriAnne/A.M. Strickland was a bibliophile who wanted to be an author before she knew what either of those words meant. She shares a home base in Alaska with her spouse, her pugs, and her piles and piles of books. She loves traveling, dancing, tattoos, and every shade of teal in existence, but especially the darker ones. She is the author of BEYOND THE BLACK DOOR and IN THE RAVENOUS DARK (Macmillan), and coauthor of SHADOW RUN and SHADOW CALL (Random House).

Reviews

[Dark Faerie Tales · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales

Quick & Dirty: Wordless was entirely original and extremely engaging, with strong aspects of world building.

Opening Sentence: I’d heard the story when I was a kid.

The Review:

In Wordless, certain humans have been granted with the power of the Words, unlimited Godlike power. There is the Word of Life, who can heal and bring back the recently dead with a touch. There is the Word of Earth, who controls the elements on earth. They live in Eden City, and the lower on the social structure are kept illiterate as to not endanger the Words. But not all is right. Tavin, a poor trash collector, is pulled into a daring rescue for one of the Words much by accident, to prevent total takeover by those that crave power.

Wordless has a remarkably unique plotline. The idea of having humans called “Words” that can control life, darkness, earth, just by talking? Wow! I loved the structure to Eden City, though I wish I’d seen more of it because most of the book they’re on the run. The lower citizens are kept wordless (can’t read or write) as to not threaten the Words. You start to see how corrupt the social structure is, however, during the book, I loved the glimpses into how the Words were being used. The whole prospect of Godspeaking was creepy and made me shiver for Khaya. You could tell the work put into the world building and I certainly appreciated getting to delve deep into it! Since the majority of the novel is spent trekking through wilderness, dodging enemies, it was important to have stories about Eden City and such to fill the pages. To add to the originality, I must note that’s it’s been awhile since the POV has been primarily male. Last time I remember reading one like that is Percy Jackson… It’s definitely not the last I read but it’s the last that comes to mind. Speaking of Percy, I haven’t read Percy Jackson and the Olympians in a long time!

The characters had depth and personality. Actually, Tavin was the character that I enjoyed least of all, don’t get me wrong, he was not a bad character. It’s just that the others were so amazing he was out shined! The romance had development and I loved watching Khaya melt from her outer shell a little each conversation. Some YA books have started with the insta-love where it’s love at first sight, so the development made the success of the relationship all the sweeter. At first, she’s hard and slightly self-centered. It takes her a long time to trust Tavin, but watching them get together was so worth the wait. Not to mention that Khaya’s sweet Word of Life powers made me read without pausing.

Cliffhanger!! Usually my use of two exclamation marks in reviews is reserved for my rants. So here we go: give me book 2. Now. The book went from great to amazing within the last few chapters. So much happened but I was very pleased that it wasn’t rushed. We got to let the sudden exciting twist sink in… And then the book ended. Yeah, no, don’t leave me like this. I REFUSE. At least I don’t have to wait as long because I’ll review it, but still.

You should really check out Wordless. The writing style is different and dark, and the story is plagued by danger. World building wins an A++. If you get bored easily you may want to bypass this one because towards the middle things slow down (that’s why 4 stars), but otherwise you’re set. Characters are fun and I laughed a few times out loud. Not to mention the intriguing plotline that really drew me in. It promises a fulfilling trilogy and an exciting battle to come, and the cliffhanger leaves you wanting more. Action can flip on at the push of a button. An awesome romance begins to bud. To finish up I’ll just say that Wordless is a unique and original novel that is worth your time!

Notable Scene:

“What’s this?” Drey asked, picking up the postcard with the message scratched into the back. The pencil sat nearby, like a murder weapon at the scene of a crime.

Before I could invent some excuse about pretending to write-and it would have been good, especially since Drey couldn’t tell the difference between real or fake letters-he uttered in a tone of utter surprise:

“Why does this say ‘help me?’”

FTC Advisory: Flux provided me with a copy of Wordless. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review. In addition, I don’t receive affiliate fees for anything purchased via links from my site.

[Kristy Sartain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh. My. God. YA Crack. I could NOT put this book down! The language, actions, love at first sight, everything screams TEENAGE BOY!!! I will 100% buy this book when it comes out. My guys, and girls, will love it!

I don't know how to classify Wordless as a genre, which is important since I'm genre-fied my library. :/ I would probably put it in Paranormal because some of the world is similar to our own. It's not a fantasy, other-world and it's not a dystopian because this isn't a future world. It's today, if The Words existed in real life.

The plot? Love it! The society in Wordless is "ruled" by The Words. These are people who not only are in charge of their Word, but ARE their Word. They are born into it and become it. Enter Tav. We can assume there is something *more* to him because of how he is described and how his "dad" raised him. I did NOT see the thing coming, though. And I could not get enough of it. I was devastated when this first book ended. Not in the ending, but that it ended. I wanted, nay, craved more. And now I have to wait a year before I can get it??!! UGH! YA crack!

Do yourself a favor. Read this book as soon as you can get your hands on it. Wow. Wow. Wow.

[Mrs. Kenyon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tavin Barnes is an illiterate wordless trash collector and he knows that will never change. He was found abandoned as a baby and raised in his wordless world. After being assigned to Eden City to collect trash, Khaya, the Word of Life, stages an escape and Tavin is quickly pulled into the world of the Words and the political intrigue he knew nothing about. The city’s elite will do anything to get Khaya back, but won’t admit to the public that she is missing. Do these teens have what it takes to outsmart their devious elders? Who can they trust and what will they sacrifice?

Wordless is the first book in the new Words Made Flesh series. Although there is world building and character development for a rather large group of characters, Strickland is able to weave these details into the story without it feeling like a lecture. The action is quick and ever changing with a few twists at the end to make this a satisfying read. Readers who enjoyed The Hunger Games, The Testing and The Maze Runner will want to try their eyes out on this book.

[TL *Humaning the Best She Can* · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice concept and characters... I was racing through the pages for most of it. I loved Tavin and Khaya and how the romance between them slowly blossomed.

It was scary how greedy Eden City was for power and how they kept the Words prisoner... the ending of the book was a suprise too, set up nicely for the next installment.

In spite of everything I did like/love about the idea... I felt disconnected from it at some point, not sure when/how it happened but I started to want to hurry up and finish it.

The world building is good but I wish there had been more informatiom *shrugs* The backstory on the Words was interesting though.

Its probly another case of 'Not the book its me' (happens to the best of us) Its not a bad book, wish I could've liked it more.

Still would recommend, you may think differently than me.

Happy reading!

[Chelsea Pitcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

First thing’s first: WORDLESS is one of the best books I’ve ever read. Strickland has a phenomenal talent for blending unique world-building, excellent characterization, and pacing that will keep you flipping through the pages until the end. I cannot speak highly enough of this book.

So let’s start with the world-building, shall we? On the surface, it seems like Eden City is quite a bit different from the real world. After all, the real world doesn’t contain human beings who have the power to bid the forests to grow, or the power to kill with a touch. But under this fantastically unique world-building, we see hints of the real world, of governments that manipulate their people for profit. Of celebrity-status Words who seem to have it all, but really are treated like caged animals.

And at the center of it all, we have Tavin, a seemingly normal boy who’s grown up poor, working as a garbage boy with the man who adopted him. But Tavin’s life holds secrets that even he doesn’t know, and it’s impossible not to root for this wry, hilarious boy as he seeks out the truth.

And then we have Khaya. Kick-ass, wonderful Khaya, who would never sit around and wait for some boy to save her. Khaya is the Word of Life, but her power is being used for something terrible, and so she makes a plan to escape Eden city. That’s when she collides with Tavin—literally, she lands on him while leaping to her escape. And what follows is nothing short of wonderful.

This book is just a masterpiece. The pacing is so fast, the tension crackles, and the characterization is believable without being predictable. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time I was reading, flipping from page to page, anxious to see what would happen next. Would the characters survive? Would this unlikely pair become friends, or even more? Who was the true villain in the story?

Strickland kept me guessing until the end. And along the way, I got to meet other fabulous characters, sinister and sweet, snarky and genuine. Khaya and Tavin aren’t the only ones providing tension in the novel, and I loved that the other characters’ stories never felt like side stories added in. Everything was perfectly woven together, and when I got to the ending . . .

Well, I won’t spoil it for you, but wow! I love trying to guess how a book will end, and trying to solve all of its mysteries, but with WORDLESS, I had the pleasure of being surprised.

I recommend it to everyone.

[T.M. Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always lived by the philosophy that Words have Power. When you speak them, you give them meaning. That were never more true than with this story. In a world where certain people have been given power over words, and certain words affect our reality, two teenagers defy the Gods and attempt to change society. Tavin is wordless, meaning his words have no power. Khaya is the exact opposite, she is the Word of Life. Khaya escapes Eden City with Tavin’s help and so our story begins.

The center of power, Eden City, is home of the Words. The Word of Life, the Word of Death, Elemental Words such as fire, water, earth and air. But the majority of the populous are wordless, like Tavin. The Godspeakers rule and manipulate with the ability to read the words that are held on each Word’s flesh. Khaya has learned exactly what the Godspeakers are planning, which is why she flees. Together they find other Word’s and start to build their own abilities, both as individuals, but as a group as well.

While Tavin and Khaya are on their journey emotions run high. Fear of what the Godspeakers will do if they catch them, anger at what they are attempting, love and so much more. Friends will be lost, enemies will be made, their very lives are on the line. Through it all Tavin and Khaya remain steadfast to each other, but a dark long hidden secret threatens to tear everything they’ve built apart in the end.

My only complaint, there was a conflict between two of the characters that felt forced and didn’t ring true. Aside from that this was a fantastically believable story within an amazingly drawn world littered with completely loveable and utterly revolting characters. Fast paced and steady throughout, action packed, suspenseful and just a teensy bit romantic. I felt like I was a third wheel travelling alongside Tavin and Khaya the story was so vividly described. And holy cliffhanger, not nice!

I give this one 5 out of 5 to spite the little hiccup, it was so thought provoking and descriptive and I highly recommend it.

[Eunice · Rating 5 out of 5]

"And the Words became Flesh"

All it took were those words, and i knew I'm going to give this book 5 stars. It was a very unique experience and adventure for me reading this book. I ran, hid, held my breath, and swam with them. The story in general is very intriguing.

Some books start really well but disappoint in the middle. I watched out for that part but there was NONE!!! everything was well placed and well thought. There was enough thrill, enough humor, lots of adventure, enough romance and friendship, enough twists and turns, enough mystery and...well, everything was said and done just at the right time. i have no complains. I loved how Tav was portrayed. He's very human by the way he thinks and acts while the Words were very Words. I liked Pavati's personality a lot but still like Khaya for Tav. I Liked how Khaya can be very close and very open depending on the situation. As for Tu, well he's there to make more twists. He's powerful (like the rest of the Words) and often rliable but i still cant decide if I like him.

I strongly recommend this book!

There's no other book like this. This is like, ALL-IN-ONE. Everything you want in just one go. I read this book as a reward to myself for doing well on my exam and i just have to say this: This is the BEST reward i ever gave to myself. Will be waiting for the sequel. I'll have to summon every patience i can summon to wait patiently...but it's more than worth it

I can't wait to know what would happen to Tav now that he's the word of death. Like, can he still read other Words like what he did with Khaya? Will he use his words? And what happened to Khaya, Pavati and, Tu? I hope Tu felt guilty and would grow up in the next book. *sigh*

[Lisa Maxwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

We all know that words have power, but AdriAnne Strickland's debut takes that idea and makes it literal. In the world of wordless, there are the Words--god-like being who are inscribed with words that have the power to make and unmake, and the Wordless--the teaming masses of the unwashed illiterate, who look up to Words the way that we look to celebrities.

In a word, the premise is just brilliant. Luckily, the rest of the book follows through on its promise.

Wordless is a non-stop, keep-you-guessing adventure that takes our main character, Tavin Barnes, out of his monotonous life as a garbage collector and puts him at risk as an enemy of the state. The book teems with a diverse cast of characters and keeps you guessing, right until the very end.

[Hallie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heaven has given me a little gift! I just received this book two days before the release date! I cannot wait to read this!

My thoughts now that I have read this: Wow. Just wow. That ending...I did not see it coming. I can't wait to see how Ms. Strickland develops the story from there.

This book was imaginative and wonderful and...you'll just have to read it to find out. As for me, I will be twiddling my thumbs for the next two years, impatiently waiting for Lifeless and Boundless. The waiting may very well drive me insane, so if you need me at all during this period of time, I'll likely be in an insane asylum.

[Helene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! AdriAnne Strickland tackled some complex ideas here and she did it with surprising humor and style. International politics, love, government manipulation - it's all here in book one of what should be a fantastic and popular series. I'm trying to be careful not to give anything away, which is difficult. But I will say that this book has a wiz-bang ending that already has me salivating for book #2!

[Deanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! It’s very original and the story and characters kept me interested and on the edge throughout the entire book. I couldn’t put it down! It was fast-paced and fun with the right amount of romance, and a totally shocking ending that makes it so you can’t wait for the second book, Lifeless. Loved it. I highly recommend!!

[Mary Crockett · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wild, roller coaster ride of a book with so many great moments along the way! I thought the alternative reality aspect of Wordless was especially fascinating. Loved the idea of the words made flesh--and all the implications of that idea. The characters were complex and engaging. Can't wait to read #2!

[Jennifer Nash · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable read. It had an interesting premise: only select individuals have the ability to read because words are so powerful. Along with the new element of actual Words - people who have the ability of the words (Death, Life, Earth, etc.). The unique story along with fun twists along the way make this book worth reading.

[Analouise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great start to a new series. *Wordless* has innovative world-building and equally innovative characters. I enjoyed the ways language took on a life of its own (so to speak), as well as the implied connections between literacy and power. I’m looking forward to the next book! Highly recommended.

[Katy Lam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Check out my review here:

http://smoking-hot-books.blogspot.com...

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting alternate history/urban fantasy for young adults. The kids were really sweet and ernest somehow. They had tempers, they weren't perfect. But they had all been so sheltered, even the ones who had been terribly abused (depending how you look at it), that they actually felt emotionally like the inexperienced kids that they were supposed to be in the book and it worked for the story. Even Tavin, who's lived in the city his whole life, seemed very innocent, apparently life in Eden City didn't allow for him to go out running with friends or anything like that. It seemed like all he did was work and live at the garage. Maybe the author simplified things a little more than they would have been in real life, but it still worked, it gave it a bit of a fated, mythological feel with the Words supposedly being embodiments of the gods or the Words of God or whatever. The whole book just had a good feeling. If I analyze it, it's not the best book I ever read or anything, but there's something about the kids that's really likable and that makes me want to root for them, makes me want to find out what happens to them.

And I do find the concept of the Words pretty interesting. It was a powerful idea, especially for me as a Jewish person, we tend to find language and words to be powerful anyway. We make art out of biblical passages, if you look at what looks like a beautiful image closely you see that the entire thing is actually made out of small Hebrew letters in the form of paragraphs of the Torah that correspond with the image. And we wear necklaces of the word Life to represent our love of Judaism, a "Chai" is one of the most popular symbols in the Jewish faith.

Which is why it was so freaking annoying that the author used the word, "Khaya," for the girl's name in the book, it was supposed to be the Hebrew word for life, but where the heck did she get that spelling? When you're writing words in English from languages with different alphabets there can always be different spellings, like Chanukah and Hanukkah. But chai is pronounced with a guttural first letter that does not translate to any specific letter in English, which is why "ch" are usually the letters in English we choose, sometimes "c", to at least get a harder sound, sometimes just an "h". Most English speakers have a hard time pronouncing the sound and it's something kids in Hebrew school all learn and then spend the rest of their lives laughing at non-Hebrew speakers when they try to say a word with that sound and get it wrong. It's part of how we know who's Jewish and who isn't when we see someone on TV saying a prayer or doing a comedy bit with something in it like, "L'chaim,", to life! So the spelling of "Khaya" was bizarre and didn't at all capture the important aspect of the real word, which is the guttural first letter, it in fact obliterated the option to include it by inserting the soft "h" sound. It was the wrong spelling and the author seemed oblivious to the proper pronunciation. I know I'm making a big deal out of this, but she chose the word because it means life and it was an important symbol in the book in several ways. And it looks like she just changed it to try and make it look cool to young kids or something, like Chaia or Chaya or even Kaia wouldn't have been cool enough. At least if it was Kaia it could have had a hard K sound. It bothered me every time I saw the name, because in my head I was saying it wrong with a soft sound and it wasn't the word for life then, it was just some meaningless name. I couldn't connect the visual with the soft Kh sound with a mental hard Ch or C or the real ח. If there had been something somewhere in the book to indicate that the author was aware that it isn't just the same sound as Kathy with a bit of a breath after the K, it would have really helped, Tavin just once struggling to pronounce it or mentioning that he had to learn it when he was a kid or something. Chai/ חי is one of the most important words in Hebrew, most Jewish women have a חי necklace, we use the symbol to decorate our homes, we give gifts of multiples of $18 because the letters' values in the alphabet total 18 and then we're giving good luck because it's the word for life, it's just important and well known worldwide, so was really annoying to see it so mangled. End rant, sorry. But I loved the Words idea, very cool.

Where and when the book took place turned out to be pretty cool. It was confusing at first, I had no idea where we were, if it was another world or time. Slowly it became clear that this was actually our world and that Eden City was somewhere in Europe. Finally it said that Eden City had been Geneva several hundred years ago. I was also able to place the time of the book. Calculating from what it said about Tu's Japanese parent being accepted as donor in 1965, assuming about a year for testing and gestation, knowing that the parents' generation all died at age forty, and that that was twelve years ago, it must be about 2018 at the time of this book. But the mystery was kind of cool, it gave it a nice vibe, trying to figure out how this could be happening and wondering how it all came about. It had that feeling you get from dystopian books where you only vaguely know what's going on in the first book, then you get some big reveals near the end of the first book and then the scope of the story and the reveals about the world get much bigger in second book and again in the third. It isn't really dystopian, it isn't grim and dark, but there is a worldwide conspiracy to govern. We'll see more in the next book, it's unclear so far what the rest of the world outside of Eden City is really like.

So despite my long rant about not liking the spelling of the leading lady's name, it was a better book than I expected for whatever reason (for whatever reason I didn't expect it to be quite as good as it was). It just had a good energy, I liked the kids and their attitudes, their innocence and determination. They wouldn't have worked in most books, they'd have been too naive, the book would have been too simple, but there's a mythological/fable vive to it just a tiny bit because of the god thing that makes me put it on a different level than just urban fantasy somehow. Like it's OK if some of the things that happen are a bit unlikely, or the conflict seem too simple so far, it's just a story and it's a good one. I'm eager to read the next book and see where the author takes the kids and see how she spins up the conflict because i can see it getting more complex, especially considering the twist at the end.

[Ariella Zwillinger · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book! The whole idea of the book is very unique and fresh. I gave it four stars because I think it ended pretty abruptly, and I would have liked to see more character development in Tavin and Khaya. I felt like we got to know them pretty well, but they didn't really get to know eachother, and yet they would each risk their lives for eachother and follow eachother to the ends of the earth. I think if the book was longer it would give more needed details.
Can't wait to read the next one!

[Jess at Such a Novel Idea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. It does not affect the outcome of my review in any way.

My first Flux book was Some Quiet Place, and I was so struck by the rich complexity and uniqueness of the story, that it kind of imprinted on me. Now, any book from Flux I see, I really want to read. So, of course, when I read the synopsis of Wordless, I knew I had to read it.

The idea behind Wordless is fascinating and wholly unique. It was basically taking the idea of "stick and stone may break my bones, but words will never hurt me" and personifying it. Saying "What IF words could hurt you?"

So Adrianne created a world much like ours, except in this world, there are Words (select individual) and those people have a gift from the Gods -- the gift of words right on their flesh. They are everything from life and death, to water and fire. These words are almost like demi-gods with their power -- the power to do amazing things, except they are human enough to die.

Despite the amazing premise, I did have some hesitations with the book. There was a serious issue of pacing, especially after Tavin meets Khaya. The beginning is really solid up until this point, but things start to move really quickly once they meet, then slow down considerably, leaving me with whiplash. Then there is a big information section, where we (and Tavin) are learning everything. While the learning was woven into the story well, it made me clueless for the first half of the book. I kept asking so many questions in my head that it was hard to focus on what was happening.

The world building in this book was great, it just took awhile to figure out where and when we were. I liked that the book took place in Europe, and the weaving of Eden City's story into our own history was clever and grounding. It made the book seem more realistic and gave a better sense of the world we were dealing with.

The background characters were somewhat one dimensional, but I enjoyed Tavin and Khaya. I didn't always believe their chemistry, but I did want them together. Once they really decided how they felt about each other, I was on board and wholly rooting for them! I loved that they had to warm up to one another, that it wasn't like at first sight.

Despite these few flaws, I really enjoyed the book. I did expect Tav to find out some of his past secrets, but I never expected what ended up happening. It completely took me by surprise and left me with my jaw on the floor. Adrianne set up a great platform for the next book and left enough breadcrumbs throughout the book to have a stellar second book. The last three chapters were stellar and left me hanging on a major cliff -- with the knowledge that I have some time to wait and see what is happening next.

This review was originally posted on Such a Novel Idea.

[Bege · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a huge fan of young adult fiction, but it holds the dubious distinction of the highest rate of books I've finished and been sorely disappointed by. Most YA is an easy read, so it's easy to finish and then be grumpy about being suckered into reading a sub-part story after the fact. They almost all hit the checkbox: young character develops, romance, blah blah blah. It's done with all the subtlety of a Turducken.

Wordless has the distinction of sucking you in with characters you care about immediately, and a plot that beckons with intrigue around every corner. As a result, it's a fast ride, and thankfully, a satisfying one. There's one moment, with a piece of paper that Tavin needs translated, that's positively chilling. All too often books hold promises of mysteries and intrigue to only fall completely flat. Wordless is part of a trilogy, so there are any number of questions that are left unanswered, but Strickland doesn't skimp on the answers or on character resolution. This provides the characters with some satisfying development while simultaneously managing to raise new questions as information is released.

In particular, two key things make Wordless stand out from other enjoyable reads:

The first is that the romantic involvement between the two main characters in the book doesn't make you roll your eyes or want to retch. The chemistry between the characters is real, and it makes the interactions between them interesting to read. This feeds into the second point, which is that the themes of the book don't reach out and slap you either. The author subtly weaves themes of choice throughout the book - not just for the main character, but for almost everyone. What does it meant to be a self determining human being, particularly when our choices might seem so limited? The wrap up to this at the end of the book brought a lump to my throat, which is about as much recommendation as I can give a book.

[Kayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is also a book I will re-read. It's one of my favorite reads this year.

Wordless was very enjoyable and a bit emotional at times. The characters were all well-developed, even secondary ones. I enjoyed learning about the character's histories and seeing how that influenced their current actions. I also really liked all the characters - especially the Word of Life. It was refreshing to see a character that strong who also favors nonviolence. Seeing her wrestle with what was happening and how she should respond was very interesting.

The world-building was every bit as creative as I had hoped upon reading the summary of this book! I also loved the plot and pacing. I cannot wait to read the next book in the series (omg that ending!).

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nooooooo I need more! D:

I really liked the world building here - fitting fantasy into "the real world" can easily turn clunky, but this felt believable. Tavin and Khaya (and their later companions) were given a good mix of strengths and foibles, and their growth over the course of the story seemed natural. I appreciated Pavati's ability to give backstory in a way that wasn't an obvious info dump. (Also she is awesome, and will take no bullshit.)

A good mix of mythos, action, and political machinations makes this a gripping read. But SUMMER 2015 FOR BOOK TWO???

[Araseli · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those books that you want to stay up to read because it is so good. I really like it when the author makes the reader feel that they want to be best friends with the main character. And they don't give the main character any annoying flaws. Also it was a good change for me the main character is a boy and it took me out of all the girly books I've been reading, I think I enjoy this book a lot because I like all the characters in this book. It's a fantasy book with some action, magic and humor. The synopsis of this book doesn't give this book any justice.

[Jolene Perry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tavin's head was a great place to be.

I LOVE authors who can write nice guys that still know how to fight ;-)

So, there was this one twist that when it happened, I was like, okay, yeah... I knew there was SOMETHING here... But it was still good.

And then my reactions to the last twist went like this:

WHA...???

And then. AWESOME.

Followed by. I NEED THE NEXT BOOK!

LOOOVE the ending of this one. LOVE.

(also WHEW! Because i met this author, and she lives near me, and she's super awesome, so I was extra scared I wouldn't like this book ;-)

[Janna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book, I loved the incorporation of other languages and cultures that you don't always see in young adult books. I also liked the ties into real world politics of the different countries. Great job, Adri! Excited to read the next one!

[Lynndell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wordless by AdriAnne Strickland and Flux is a fantasy full of humor that fits the story perfectly. The writing is so well done that I couldn't put the book down. Strong characters and detailed world building make this a fantastic read!

[Jasmine Grice · Rating 2 out of 5]

The author had a good idea but the book started off too fast then became fairly boring and couldn't keep my interest. It wasn't very well written at all.

[Kaitlin Mohler · Rating 4 out of 5]

VERY intriguing. The sudden twist at the end was exciting. I recieved an early copy for review. (Full review should be on dark faerie tales within a couple of weeks)

[Louisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had such a great time reading this book, the world was so interesting, and I can't wait to read the sequel!

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as a giveaway a few years ago and it got lost on my bookshelf until this summer. Boy, I should never have lost it! A really good teen read, and adult read. Gods made the Words into flesh. A chosen few in lineage are the Words: death, life, light, darkness, earth, wind, fire, and water. They can control their element, or Godspeakers can read the Words off of them. This generation is trying to change that. I would definitely recommend this book to lovers of fantasy.

[Paige Canetto · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED this book. Really cool idea. I've read many books about kids with magical powers but this was a completely different reason than anything I had ever read before which was cool. Would recommend to any teenager who love dystopian or fantasy.