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Unusuals #1
Mara
For years, Mara Tucker has used her power of manipulating flames to punish those who have done her wrong. But things are changing in the town of Jericho. Rampant disappearances have forced Mara to seek out others with special powers. In a story that confronts the violence and turmoil of adolescence, Mara and a group of other "unusuals" like her grapple with new alliances and the villains pressing in all around them.
176 pages, Paperback
First published August 3, 2013
4 people are currently reading
1904 people want to read
About the author
Veronica Bane
5 books135 followersVeronica Bane spent her formative teen years working at a popular theme park. Following days spent as a princess and an usher, she graduated from Chapman University with a BFA in Creative Writing. Since then, she has worked as a high school English teacher in Lincoln Heights, California. When she’s not writing, she’s exploring Los Angeles with her husband and their beloved dog, Bodhi. Her debut novel Difficult Girls was an instant USA Today bestseller.
Visit her at www.veronicabane.com and on social media @veronicabane to stay updated.
Visit her at www.veronicabane.com and on social media @veronicabane to stay updated.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
December 1, 2013
I was given a copy by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Characters: Mara, a surly 17 year old girl with a dark past is the main character. The novel is in her point of view. Other important characters include a group of teenagers in her town - Miles, Alex, Terry, Miyuki, and Chris - Mara's sadistic older brother, and the equally sadistic, pathetic town leader working with a man known as The Stranger to carry out a sick, angry agenda. Due to multiple instances of abuse in her past, Mara is angry and harsh, and it was hard for me to warm up to her because of her abrasiveness. However, as I read on, I gained more understanding and sympathy toward her, as well as wishing I could kick her brother where it hurts. He didn't make as much of an impression in the book as I'd hoped he would, but Bane is working on a sequel so that may contain some closure with him.
Plot: Mara has escaped her cruel, abusive brother to a town called Jericho to stay with her uncle. She has the power to create and manipulate fire but has tried to gain control over it and live an average life. Seven years later, she discovers that not only is she not the only one who posesses special powers, but there are at least 2 crazed adults who will stop at nothing to eliminate any person with powers. She and the other teenagers must band together and prepare to fight if they want to survive. The plot is fast-paced and was able to hold my attention from beginning to end. There was a lot of action, paranormal and realistic, but also dark themes found in a few contemporary novels. I think it could have been drawn out a little more but since it is a novella and there is a sequel, it is of sufficient legnth.
Writing: Bane's talent and passion for this story and its characters are apparent. The book was full of rich vocabulary and vivid descriptions. The dialogue was very realistic as well. Her character development and event sequence were on point. I would recommend Mara to any fan of YA and NA, whether paranormal is your thing or not. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will definitely be reading the sequel.
Characters: Mara, a surly 17 year old girl with a dark past is the main character. The novel is in her point of view. Other important characters include a group of teenagers in her town - Miles, Alex, Terry, Miyuki, and Chris - Mara's sadistic older brother, and the equally sadistic, pathetic town leader working with a man known as The Stranger to carry out a sick, angry agenda. Due to multiple instances of abuse in her past, Mara is angry and harsh, and it was hard for me to warm up to her because of her abrasiveness. However, as I read on, I gained more understanding and sympathy toward her, as well as wishing I could kick her brother where it hurts. He didn't make as much of an impression in the book as I'd hoped he would, but Bane is working on a sequel so that may contain some closure with him.
Plot: Mara has escaped her cruel, abusive brother to a town called Jericho to stay with her uncle. She has the power to create and manipulate fire but has tried to gain control over it and live an average life. Seven years later, she discovers that not only is she not the only one who posesses special powers, but there are at least 2 crazed adults who will stop at nothing to eliminate any person with powers. She and the other teenagers must band together and prepare to fight if they want to survive. The plot is fast-paced and was able to hold my attention from beginning to end. There was a lot of action, paranormal and realistic, but also dark themes found in a few contemporary novels. I think it could have been drawn out a little more but since it is a novella and there is a sequel, it is of sufficient legnth.
Writing: Bane's talent and passion for this story and its characters are apparent. The book was full of rich vocabulary and vivid descriptions. The dialogue was very realistic as well. Her character development and event sequence were on point. I would recommend Mara to any fan of YA and NA, whether paranormal is your thing or not. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will definitely be reading the sequel.
April 15, 2014
For years, Mara Tucker has used her power of manipulating flames to punish those who have done her wrong. But things are changing in the town of Jericho. Rampant disappearances have forced Mara to seek out others with special powers. In a story that confronts the violence and turmoil of adolescence, Mara and a group of other "unusuals" like her grapple with new alliances and the villains pressing in all around them.
Mara is fast-paced and dangerous, a thrilling tale of unusual teens and their unusual powers in a small town filled with deadly secrets. If they don't work together, they could end up among the disappeared.
Mara isn't the only character focused on, but she's where the story starts. A lonely girl, a powerful girl. In the beginning she runs from something, someone, and ends up in Jericho. She's used her power over fire and flames to punish those who've tried to hurt her, but is that really all there is? If she's hiding from her past, what kind of future will that lead to? But then she's not alone, then she discovers there are others like her, with powers, and others who want to stop them.
All of the teens used to be separate, usually alone with no friends, but when they discover they're more alike than they thought, they're forced to work together. There are a lot of butting heads, a fair number of arguments and fights, but they'll have to come together or they'll be ripped apart. It was entertaining to see the group come together, different personalities and motives clashing and arguing.
Jericho is a small town filled with dangerous secrets and racism. Both hit hard and both linger. The racism spewed by certain characters is so obvious, so out in the open, that I felt sick. They don't bother to hide it, not caring what anyone things. It's this fear of the other that leads to hatred and fear, and for those considered to be the other, it could lead to retaliation. Because they will fight back to have their voices heard.
A novella is a curious choice, you only have so many words in which to tell so many things. It certainly makes for a more fast-paced story. There's can't be any extra information, it needs to be clear and to the point. No hiding behind back story. But there still has to be character development, and I felt there was. It's not just Mara that has to learn to work as part of a team but all of them. They all have their fears, their wants and needs, their reasons for wanting to run when it gets deadly, but they also have those moments of change that keep them from being one-dimensional.
I found this story to be interesting and exciting. The stakes are high and the tension is high, as they often are in life or death situations. Some questions are answered but others are left open. Hopefully, they will be answered in the next installment.
Mara is fast-paced and dangerous, a thrilling tale of unusual teens and their unusual powers in a small town filled with deadly secrets. If they don't work together, they could end up among the disappeared.
Mara isn't the only character focused on, but she's where the story starts. A lonely girl, a powerful girl. In the beginning she runs from something, someone, and ends up in Jericho. She's used her power over fire and flames to punish those who've tried to hurt her, but is that really all there is? If she's hiding from her past, what kind of future will that lead to? But then she's not alone, then she discovers there are others like her, with powers, and others who want to stop them.
All of the teens used to be separate, usually alone with no friends, but when they discover they're more alike than they thought, they're forced to work together. There are a lot of butting heads, a fair number of arguments and fights, but they'll have to come together or they'll be ripped apart. It was entertaining to see the group come together, different personalities and motives clashing and arguing.
Jericho is a small town filled with dangerous secrets and racism. Both hit hard and both linger. The racism spewed by certain characters is so obvious, so out in the open, that I felt sick. They don't bother to hide it, not caring what anyone things. It's this fear of the other that leads to hatred and fear, and for those considered to be the other, it could lead to retaliation. Because they will fight back to have their voices heard.
A novella is a curious choice, you only have so many words in which to tell so many things. It certainly makes for a more fast-paced story. There's can't be any extra information, it needs to be clear and to the point. No hiding behind back story. But there still has to be character development, and I felt there was. It's not just Mara that has to learn to work as part of a team but all of them. They all have their fears, their wants and needs, their reasons for wanting to run when it gets deadly, but they also have those moments of change that keep them from being one-dimensional.
I found this story to be interesting and exciting. The stakes are high and the tension is high, as they often are in life or death situations. Some questions are answered but others are left open. Hopefully, they will be answered in the next installment.
September 17, 2014
originally posted at: http://thebookplank.blogspot.com/2014...
I have been finishing some superhero books recently and when I went through them on Goodreads I was recommended to read the novella Mara. When I read the synopsis of the book I was more than eager to dig into it. It somehow reminded me a bit to Firestarter from Stephen King. The promise that the synopsis holds for Mara is more than proven true, more than once Veronica Bane managed to surprise by the power of her story, it's far from ordinary. Mara is Veronica Bane's debut novella and features as an opener in the Unusuals series.
Veronica Bane begins Mara with an very interesting prologue that immediately helped to set the setting right for the story. After which the focus is places upon Mara Tucker a 17-year-old girl who has the power of making flames appear and control them with just her thoughts, Mara has been using this extraordinary ability to get back at the people who have heart her but always choosing to show it in a way that it didn't draw attention. Mara has a dark past, one which you get to learn along the way and which tells just how she would up in the town of Jericho. She wanted to flee her past but now she finds out that the town of Jericho isn't all that good of an escape to have chosen. Strange things seem to happen to several teenagers living in Jericho. By this Mara finds out that she isn't the only on with extraordinary powers. There are others like her that are able to control different elements like that of water or stone. Mara groups up with the others that are like her and they call themselves the Unusuals. As I said, somethings are happening in the city of Jericho which causes that the lives of Mara and her friends becomes rather precarious. And that is quite understated. The Unusuals are being haunted down by the new Government who doesn't want their kind anymore, whereas Mara and her Unusual friends just want to be given the opportunity to live a normal life. Now they are forced into a very violent game, where winning is the only option to get out alive.
I really liked the story of Mara, I normally don't read that many novella's, I think I can count them on one hand but Veronica Bane wrote a really solid and intriguing story. What some authors aren't able to achieve in a full lenght book: making the story engaging and creating and building characters, Veronica does this to the fullest. From the beginning with Mara you are readily dragged in to the story and later by a different protagonist Miyuki. What people often think (and I actually as well) is that when superpowers make an entry in fiction that you will have only vivid battle between hero and villain. For Mara, this isn't actually the case because the backdrop focuses on many different aspects as well. Social status and acceptance, growing-up and getting by on a daily basis. These different aspects gave the story of Mara the a whole new set of layers; that much more gripping.
The characters that Veronica Bane introduces in her story of Mara all feel well executed. Though in the beginning it was hard to connect with several. The main protagonist of the book, Mara, is a really strong lead and perhaps a bit too much in the beginning. It directly falls to note that she has a dark past, her life hasn't been easy and isn't going to change soon and these facts create a dark air surrounding her character. But later when you get more explanation around the past events and how Mara has to fend for herself and her other friends it is impossible not to connect. With all that Mara is going through you will be cheering her on. Besides Mara there is one other character of the Unusuals that makes up a big part of the story, this is Miyuki. Mara and Miyuki are literally like water and fire, contrasting when it comes down to personalities and powers. But deep down they both want the same and that is to be free. Mara is very caring for other whereas Miyuki first comes over as only for thinking about herself but she does have a sort of change of heart. I liked the influence of Miyuki's part on the story as it allowed for a much larger background in terms of history of several events. Besides Mara and Miyuki there are plenty of other characters that make a pass in the story like Alex, Terry, Chris and Mike. Though they each had their own role to play, Mara and Miyuki did have more focus on them but this didn't take away that their characters were blend, in terms of secondary cast they were very well fleshed out.
When you look at the page count of the book, it only stands at 170ish, and already the things that I mentioned above filled up the book quite well, but Veronica Bane does add one thing more. One thing that I always really, really like. Showing the bad guys behind the story. Now this might sound a bit childish when saying "bad guy" or referring to them as evil but trust me Veronica Bane writes about the evil force in anything but a childish way. It really went for me as far as bit of a thriller given the backdrop of the struggle of the teenagers and how they were disposed off. This added another great undercurrent that readily got me more excited and clustered to the pages.
Though I don't have that much novella experience yet, I know that I liked Mara. As I said it is a short story but packs a lot of power. Veronica Bane does a great job in showing an engaging and relatable set of characters, ones where you will start to grow attached to. Mara is far from a standard story about superpowers and Veronica Bane readily introduces many other different aspects in her world that make the story only come out for the better. If you ever have a few hours to spare I really urge you to pick up Mara. It's one of those hidden gems to be sure.
I have been finishing some superhero books recently and when I went through them on Goodreads I was recommended to read the novella Mara. When I read the synopsis of the book I was more than eager to dig into it. It somehow reminded me a bit to Firestarter from Stephen King. The promise that the synopsis holds for Mara is more than proven true, more than once Veronica Bane managed to surprise by the power of her story, it's far from ordinary. Mara is Veronica Bane's debut novella and features as an opener in the Unusuals series.
Veronica Bane begins Mara with an very interesting prologue that immediately helped to set the setting right for the story. After which the focus is places upon Mara Tucker a 17-year-old girl who has the power of making flames appear and control them with just her thoughts, Mara has been using this extraordinary ability to get back at the people who have heart her but always choosing to show it in a way that it didn't draw attention. Mara has a dark past, one which you get to learn along the way and which tells just how she would up in the town of Jericho. She wanted to flee her past but now she finds out that the town of Jericho isn't all that good of an escape to have chosen. Strange things seem to happen to several teenagers living in Jericho. By this Mara finds out that she isn't the only on with extraordinary powers. There are others like her that are able to control different elements like that of water or stone. Mara groups up with the others that are like her and they call themselves the Unusuals. As I said, somethings are happening in the city of Jericho which causes that the lives of Mara and her friends becomes rather precarious. And that is quite understated. The Unusuals are being haunted down by the new Government who doesn't want their kind anymore, whereas Mara and her Unusual friends just want to be given the opportunity to live a normal life. Now they are forced into a very violent game, where winning is the only option to get out alive.
I really liked the story of Mara, I normally don't read that many novella's, I think I can count them on one hand but Veronica Bane wrote a really solid and intriguing story. What some authors aren't able to achieve in a full lenght book: making the story engaging and creating and building characters, Veronica does this to the fullest. From the beginning with Mara you are readily dragged in to the story and later by a different protagonist Miyuki. What people often think (and I actually as well) is that when superpowers make an entry in fiction that you will have only vivid battle between hero and villain. For Mara, this isn't actually the case because the backdrop focuses on many different aspects as well. Social status and acceptance, growing-up and getting by on a daily basis. These different aspects gave the story of Mara the a whole new set of layers; that much more gripping.
The characters that Veronica Bane introduces in her story of Mara all feel well executed. Though in the beginning it was hard to connect with several. The main protagonist of the book, Mara, is a really strong lead and perhaps a bit too much in the beginning. It directly falls to note that she has a dark past, her life hasn't been easy and isn't going to change soon and these facts create a dark air surrounding her character. But later when you get more explanation around the past events and how Mara has to fend for herself and her other friends it is impossible not to connect. With all that Mara is going through you will be cheering her on. Besides Mara there is one other character of the Unusuals that makes up a big part of the story, this is Miyuki. Mara and Miyuki are literally like water and fire, contrasting when it comes down to personalities and powers. But deep down they both want the same and that is to be free. Mara is very caring for other whereas Miyuki first comes over as only for thinking about herself but she does have a sort of change of heart. I liked the influence of Miyuki's part on the story as it allowed for a much larger background in terms of history of several events. Besides Mara and Miyuki there are plenty of other characters that make a pass in the story like Alex, Terry, Chris and Mike. Though they each had their own role to play, Mara and Miyuki did have more focus on them but this didn't take away that their characters were blend, in terms of secondary cast they were very well fleshed out.
When you look at the page count of the book, it only stands at 170ish, and already the things that I mentioned above filled up the book quite well, but Veronica Bane does add one thing more. One thing that I always really, really like. Showing the bad guys behind the story. Now this might sound a bit childish when saying "bad guy" or referring to them as evil but trust me Veronica Bane writes about the evil force in anything but a childish way. It really went for me as far as bit of a thriller given the backdrop of the struggle of the teenagers and how they were disposed off. This added another great undercurrent that readily got me more excited and clustered to the pages.
Though I don't have that much novella experience yet, I know that I liked Mara. As I said it is a short story but packs a lot of power. Veronica Bane does a great job in showing an engaging and relatable set of characters, ones where you will start to grow attached to. Mara is far from a standard story about superpowers and Veronica Bane readily introduces many other different aspects in her world that make the story only come out for the better. If you ever have a few hours to spare I really urge you to pick up Mara. It's one of those hidden gems to be sure.
July 25, 2017
I think I started this book for the first time 3 years ago and finally I got all the way through it. If I were to describe this book it would be Avatar the Last Airbender but rated R for sex, language, and violence. This was a super easy book to fly through considering how short it is plus every page is filled with action and suspense. I wasn't a huge fan of the actual writing style I don't know exactly why but it just wasn't doing it for me, which is why I'm only giving this 4 stars and not anything higher. Will definitely be looking for the sequel sometime soon.
4/5 stars
4/5 stars
August 10, 2016
Originally posted here: http://alwayslostinbooks.wordpress.co...
I was pretty much intrigued by this book the first time I saw it, and I’m so glad that I had the opportunity to read it. It surely did not disappoint.
Mara Tucker has always felt like she didn’t belong anywhere. She had the ability to control fire, which she stumbled upon during one unfortunate situation. Because of this abnormal ability, Mara has never felt safe. Mara thinks of herself as a weed that can only cause devastation. She thinks she’s too destructive to have friends and has always kept her distance. She thinks that no one could like her or love her. And it’s worse that her own brother makes her feel that way and much worse. So she ran away to a small town. She ended up in Jericho where people have their prejudices against certain types of people. It’s not really a great environment, but at least her brother wasn’t there nor her past.
Soon enough, Mara finds that she isn’t the only one with special abilities. She meets a whole bunch of people, the unusuals, who could do all kinds of things. They control different elements like fire, earth, water, air, electricity, etc. When some of the unusuals start getting abducted or killed, Mara and her newfound friends must learn to stick together to protect each other. But it’s not that easy, especially with Mara’s explosive personality, and the personal fears that each teen feels.
I like how they were all somewhat on equal ground. Mara may have been given more focus in the story, but each character has a unique ability and/or personality, and there were parts where the focus was pointed to some other characters so you get ideas about them too. I think it was pretty cool that no ability was better than the other. It was all on honing their skills. They didn’t really know much about how they got their abilities. Each one didn’t really have a clue on what to do about their situation. I think that I could actually feel them trying to get a grip on things they couldn’t understand, and it was even harder that their was a dangerous threat against them. They all even tried to train together to better understand what each one’s capability was.
Personally, my favorite characters were Miles and Chris. They didn’t have special abilities, but they stuck with the group to help in any way they can. Granted that they may like certain girls too. Miles is a comic book nerd so when he meets Mara, he jumped at the chance to see and know the real thing. He first forced himself into Mara’s life, considering how Mara didn’t want anyone to get close to her, and he became a really good friend. He doesn’t just support Mara, but he also knows when to be brutally honest. From his quiet little life getting lost in comic books, he will learn to step out and become very brave to prove himself. Chris, on the other hand, just brings in comic relief, but he also has this sweet and sensitive side for Miyuki.
**************************************************
OVERALL, Mara is a perfect blend of action-packed scenes and fantasy elements with a little humor and drama revolving around very different and unique teenage characters. It is a fantastic read about the unusuals who can control natural elements (fire, rock, water, electricity, etc.), and an unknown stranger/s threatening their lives. It is also about being strong, finding friends, and learning how to belong and rely on them. I definitely enjoyed it and I’m looking forward to any other book Veronica Bane might release in this planned series. (I hear we might see a sequel next year so yay~) It is a book I personally recommend to anyone who likes reading about YA characters with special abilities. And maybe even for those who like Avatar (not the one with the blue people!). Only Mara is in a contemporary setting that focuses mostly on teens.
I was pretty much intrigued by this book the first time I saw it, and I’m so glad that I had the opportunity to read it. It surely did not disappoint.
“Friends and fire don’t go well together.”
Mara Tucker has always felt like she didn’t belong anywhere. She had the ability to control fire, which she stumbled upon during one unfortunate situation. Because of this abnormal ability, Mara has never felt safe. Mara thinks of herself as a weed that can only cause devastation. She thinks she’s too destructive to have friends and has always kept her distance. She thinks that no one could like her or love her. And it’s worse that her own brother makes her feel that way and much worse. So she ran away to a small town. She ended up in Jericho where people have their prejudices against certain types of people. It’s not really a great environment, but at least her brother wasn’t there nor her past.
Soon enough, Mara finds that she isn’t the only one with special abilities. She meets a whole bunch of people, the unusuals, who could do all kinds of things. They control different elements like fire, earth, water, air, electricity, etc. When some of the unusuals start getting abducted or killed, Mara and her newfound friends must learn to stick together to protect each other. But it’s not that easy, especially with Mara’s explosive personality, and the personal fears that each teen feels.
I like how they were all somewhat on equal ground. Mara may have been given more focus in the story, but each character has a unique ability and/or personality, and there were parts where the focus was pointed to some other characters so you get ideas about them too. I think it was pretty cool that no ability was better than the other. It was all on honing their skills. They didn’t really know much about how they got their abilities. Each one didn’t really have a clue on what to do about their situation. I think that I could actually feel them trying to get a grip on things they couldn’t understand, and it was even harder that their was a dangerous threat against them. They all even tried to train together to better understand what each one’s capability was.
Personally, my favorite characters were Miles and Chris. They didn’t have special abilities, but they stuck with the group to help in any way they can. Granted that they may like certain girls too. Miles is a comic book nerd so when he meets Mara, he jumped at the chance to see and know the real thing. He first forced himself into Mara’s life, considering how Mara didn’t want anyone to get close to her, and he became a really good friend. He doesn’t just support Mara, but he also knows when to be brutally honest. From his quiet little life getting lost in comic books, he will learn to step out and become very brave to prove himself. Chris, on the other hand, just brings in comic relief, but he also has this sweet and sensitive side for Miyuki.
**************************************************
OVERALL, Mara is a perfect blend of action-packed scenes and fantasy elements with a little humor and drama revolving around very different and unique teenage characters. It is a fantastic read about the unusuals who can control natural elements (fire, rock, water, electricity, etc.), and an unknown stranger/s threatening their lives. It is also about being strong, finding friends, and learning how to belong and rely on them. I definitely enjoyed it and I’m looking forward to any other book Veronica Bane might release in this planned series. (I hear we might see a sequel next year so yay~) It is a book I personally recommend to anyone who likes reading about YA characters with special abilities. And maybe even for those who like Avatar (not the one with the blue people!). Only Mara is in a contemporary setting that focuses mostly on teens.
April 13, 2014
Mara is more gritty, badass, and intense than many other YA novels in this genre, and I’m surprised by how much energy and violence is in this story despite its short length. This is a fast-paced and exciting story, but I wish that it was longer so that parts of the story can be fleshed out even more. On a side note, if Mara was a movie it’d be like Kick-Ass (but probably not like Kick-Ass 2, since I heard that that one was pretty bad...)
Introduction
Mara Tucker faked her own death and moved in with her Uncle Taylor in Jericho when she was only ten. Now, at seventeen, she discovers that she’s not the only Unusual in town – much like how she can set things on fire with a flick of her fingers, Miyuki, Alex, and other teens also have their own powers. One by one, the Unusuals are being targeted by an unknown enemy, and Mara is forced to break out of her one-woman team and confront nightmares from her past in order to protect her new friends.
Discussion
Mara is composed of alternating third-person narratives from many characters, although Mara and Miyuki take up majority of the page time. I definitely liked Mara and Miyuki the best out of all the characters – I mean, I think it’s set up that way on purpose! – because of their clash in personalities and powers; Mara is all awkward gangsta lone wolf, and Miyuki is one cool glasses-wearing chick. Their backstories have just the right amount of past struggles to show how they’ve developed and why they’ve become who they are. Also, despite the emphasis on the two latter characters, all the characters had strong (if not memorable) personalities and played a role in the story progression. The character interactions are uncomfortable and funny, but eventually a sense of comradery is developed.
And I definitely didn’t expect Mara to be so dark and violent! I think the highlight of Mara is the action; I’ve never read a YA book with so much punching and blood and cuts, wow. And even boys hurting girls? Usually a big no-no, so kudos to Bane for trying something different. Instead of smoldering stares and typical YA instalove, we get this:
Conclusion
If any of you have seen Kick-Ass, that’s what Mara reminds me of: unexpectedly violent, somewhat sadistic, great sense of comradery, lots of energy and suspense, and possibly an R rating for all the gory action if Mara ever gets turned into a movie. Seriously, Mara makes other YA paranormal books look like fluffy unicorns.
Paper Breathers (Book Reviews & Discussions)
Introduction
Mara Tucker faked her own death and moved in with her Uncle Taylor in Jericho when she was only ten. Now, at seventeen, she discovers that she’s not the only Unusual in town – much like how she can set things on fire with a flick of her fingers, Miyuki, Alex, and other teens also have their own powers. One by one, the Unusuals are being targeted by an unknown enemy, and Mara is forced to break out of her one-woman team and confront nightmares from her past in order to protect her new friends.
Discussion
Mara is composed of alternating third-person narratives from many characters, although Mara and Miyuki take up majority of the page time. I definitely liked Mara and Miyuki the best out of all the characters – I mean, I think it’s set up that way on purpose! – because of their clash in personalities and powers; Mara is all awkward gangsta lone wolf, and Miyuki is one cool glasses-wearing chick. Their backstories have just the right amount of past struggles to show how they’ve developed and why they’ve become who they are. Also, despite the emphasis on the two latter characters, all the characters had strong (if not memorable) personalities and played a role in the story progression. The character interactions are uncomfortable and funny, but eventually a sense of comradery is developed.
Friends? Friends and fire didn’t go well together.Because this is a novella, many aspects – such as relationship development, backstories, plots – are not as fleshed out as I would have liked them to be. Bane hints at the details in Mara’s past through flashbacks and also introduces the potential relationships that may develop, but more explanations would have created a better flow throughout the story. But the advantage of such a short read is the fast pacing, which adds intensity and excitement into each situation.
“I’ll look for one,” she said. “A friend, I mean.”
He scoffed.
“I’m serious,” she insisted. “I mean it. I’ll, er, go out of my comfort zone. There’s bound to be other freaks like me, right?
And I definitely didn’t expect Mara to be so dark and violent! I think the highlight of Mara is the action; I’ve never read a YA book with so much punching and blood and cuts, wow. And even boys hurting girls? Usually a big no-no, so kudos to Bane for trying something different. Instead of smoldering stares and typical YA instalove, we get this:
At once, he was on her, and Miyuki crumbled into clay that took the full force of each of Alex’s blows. His lips curved as he struck her jaw, her cheek, and her shoulder. Blood spurted from her nose, dashing his smooth chest with red.There are also allusions to rape, incest, abuse, and other touchy subjects, and discrimination is also a big theme in the story. Maybe having all of these elements in a novella is a bit too much, but it does prevent the story from ever becoming boring or tedious. It does get kind of depressing though because so many bad things and bad people keep popping up...
Conclusion
If any of you have seen Kick-Ass, that’s what Mara reminds me of: unexpectedly violent, somewhat sadistic, great sense of comradery, lots of energy and suspense, and possibly an R rating for all the gory action if Mara ever gets turned into a movie. Seriously, Mara makes other YA paranormal books look like fluffy unicorns.
Paper Breathers (Book Reviews & Discussions)
May 18, 2015
I am so very glad that I had the opportunity to read Mara. This novella was intriguing, and captured my interest from the moment I started reading. I devoured it in one sitting, and could have easily kept on reading more of this story. Mara is a unique novella that truly captured the essence of a group of unusual teenagers.
Most of the novellas that I have read have been part of a series of books. Mara stands on its own two feet, and presents an amazing story in such a small number of pages. The length, in fact, had no impact on Mara’s ability to draw me in, and make me care for the characters that we were introduced to. I think Bane has managed to make a novella fan of me.
The characters in Mara were so very vivid. I loved every single one of them (well, except the ones that you weren’t meant to love, that is). I loved Mara herself best of all. She is a young girl that has suffered through so much, and yet remains so strong. I cannot help but be in awe of her. The things she has had to face in her life are just heartbreaking. My heart went out to her the entire time I was reading Mara. On the other hand, I absolutely LOVED her attitude, and her sassiness. She’s a very likeable character in my opinion. She’s not your ordinary hero, and she makes that every clear. But she still is a hero, perhaps an extraordinary one, instead.
The other characters that really spoke to me were Alex, and Miyuki. I would love to know more about Alex, as I think he might have an extremely interesting back-story to him. And Miyuki was just awesome. Her love for her grandfather was admirable, and her abilities were astounding.
I loved how the unique and unusual gifts that the teenagers in Mara possessed were presented in such a normal way. They were just there. The characters didn’t think they were special, or that they were better than anyone else. They were just kids growing up, and had an extra burden to deal with. I liked this very much. I think Bane portrayed these characters extremely well, in a relatable and believable way, even though their lives were so very different.
The one thing that I had a little trouble with was the description of the characters. Some of them I could see so clearly in my head, like Chris and Mara, but then others I couldn’t imagine quite so well. I wish these descriptions had been a little more ample, because although I adored the characters, their images weren’t as clear as their well developed attributes and characteristics.
I conducted an interview with Veronica regarding Mara, and she informed me that there will be more to this story. I am so very excited that that is the case, because I really liked Mara, and cannot wait to see where life takes this group of teenagers.
If you are looking for a unique read that will leave you wanting more, I highly recommend Mara.
© 2014, Chiara @ Books for a Delicate Eternity . All rights reserved.
Most of the novellas that I have read have been part of a series of books. Mara stands on its own two feet, and presents an amazing story in such a small number of pages. The length, in fact, had no impact on Mara’s ability to draw me in, and make me care for the characters that we were introduced to. I think Bane has managed to make a novella fan of me.
The characters in Mara were so very vivid. I loved every single one of them (well, except the ones that you weren’t meant to love, that is). I loved Mara herself best of all. She is a young girl that has suffered through so much, and yet remains so strong. I cannot help but be in awe of her. The things she has had to face in her life are just heartbreaking. My heart went out to her the entire time I was reading Mara. On the other hand, I absolutely LOVED her attitude, and her sassiness. She’s a very likeable character in my opinion. She’s not your ordinary hero, and she makes that every clear. But she still is a hero, perhaps an extraordinary one, instead.
The other characters that really spoke to me were Alex, and Miyuki. I would love to know more about Alex, as I think he might have an extremely interesting back-story to him. And Miyuki was just awesome. Her love for her grandfather was admirable, and her abilities were astounding.
I loved how the unique and unusual gifts that the teenagers in Mara possessed were presented in such a normal way. They were just there. The characters didn’t think they were special, or that they were better than anyone else. They were just kids growing up, and had an extra burden to deal with. I liked this very much. I think Bane portrayed these characters extremely well, in a relatable and believable way, even though their lives were so very different.
The one thing that I had a little trouble with was the description of the characters. Some of them I could see so clearly in my head, like Chris and Mara, but then others I couldn’t imagine quite so well. I wish these descriptions had been a little more ample, because although I adored the characters, their images weren’t as clear as their well developed attributes and characteristics.
I conducted an interview with Veronica regarding Mara, and she informed me that there will be more to this story. I am so very excited that that is the case, because I really liked Mara, and cannot wait to see where life takes this group of teenagers.
If you are looking for a unique read that will leave you wanting more, I highly recommend Mara.
© 2014, Chiara @ Books for a Delicate Eternity . All rights reserved.
May 6, 2023
Also published in "Tales of a Depresso Witch"
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this from the author, Veronica Bane, herself in exchange for an honest review.
Let me begin by saying that unfortunately I couldn’t read and review this book when I was invited to be part of Mara Book Tour planned by Francine @Always Lost in Books. I posted an excerpt and giveaway (go here to see it) but I couldn’t express my thoughts about it. And it’s really a shame because I enjoyed this book very much.
Mara tells the story of a young girl, Mara, who can manipulate the element of fire. She’s a troubled soul but a tough girl who doesn’t let anyone tell her what to do. She soon begins to realise that something is amiss when young people disappear. She’s later thrust into a conspiracy that could lead to serious trouble and that these people, whoever they are, want her power and her friends.
Imagine Avatar: The Last Airbender or The Legend of Korra in our days with the whole element manipulation and conspiracies and everything going on. Are you picturing it? Right, now you have a small taste of what Mara sounds like. I kept picturing the series in my mind while reading Mara but not in a way that would be too difficult for me to disassociate both (the TV series from the book). Mara stands on its own even though I call it myself “The Mara-benders” which sounds simply pathetic!
Mara-benders…. Not funny!
I enjoyed Mara, the character, very much. At first, it was difficult to find a connection since she always pushed people aside and didn’t allow anyone to see beneath her armour. But then she unravels and we are face-to-face with someone who has been through a lot and doesn’t wish to hurt anyone… or be hurt for that matter.
There are also Mara’s new friends: Miyuki (who can manipulate water), Alex (who can manipulate – and this is really cool – lightning), Terry (who manipulates earth), Mike and Chris (who don’t have any unusual ability). Together they complete each other and stick with each other even when things look bad.
As for Veronica Bane’s writing, I just wished I could visualise the characters better. Overall her writing is amazing and brilliant but the characters’ description wasn’t that well explored.
On the whole, Mara was an amazing book and I really wish to continue this saga. Veronica Bane wrote an amazing coming-of-age/paranormal/sci-fi/superheroes book that will definitely grab you right in the first chapter and conquer you slowly with each page and character.
Plus, fans of A:TLA will definitely enjoy it 😉
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this from the author, Veronica Bane, herself in exchange for an honest review.
Let me begin by saying that unfortunately I couldn’t read and review this book when I was invited to be part of Mara Book Tour planned by Francine @Always Lost in Books. I posted an excerpt and giveaway (go here to see it) but I couldn’t express my thoughts about it. And it’s really a shame because I enjoyed this book very much.
Mara tells the story of a young girl, Mara, who can manipulate the element of fire. She’s a troubled soul but a tough girl who doesn’t let anyone tell her what to do. She soon begins to realise that something is amiss when young people disappear. She’s later thrust into a conspiracy that could lead to serious trouble and that these people, whoever they are, want her power and her friends.
Imagine Avatar: The Last Airbender or The Legend of Korra in our days with the whole element manipulation and conspiracies and everything going on. Are you picturing it? Right, now you have a small taste of what Mara sounds like. I kept picturing the series in my mind while reading Mara but not in a way that would be too difficult for me to disassociate both (the TV series from the book). Mara stands on its own even though I call it myself “The Mara-benders” which sounds simply pathetic!
Mara-benders…. Not funny!
I enjoyed Mara, the character, very much. At first, it was difficult to find a connection since she always pushed people aside and didn’t allow anyone to see beneath her armour. But then she unravels and we are face-to-face with someone who has been through a lot and doesn’t wish to hurt anyone… or be hurt for that matter.
There are also Mara’s new friends: Miyuki (who can manipulate water), Alex (who can manipulate – and this is really cool – lightning), Terry (who manipulates earth), Mike and Chris (who don’t have any unusual ability). Together they complete each other and stick with each other even when things look bad.
As for Veronica Bane’s writing, I just wished I could visualise the characters better. Overall her writing is amazing and brilliant but the characters’ description wasn’t that well explored.
On the whole, Mara was an amazing book and I really wish to continue this saga. Veronica Bane wrote an amazing coming-of-age/paranormal/sci-fi/superheroes book that will definitely grab you right in the first chapter and conquer you slowly with each page and character.
Plus, fans of A:TLA will definitely enjoy it 😉
January 21, 2015
4.5 stars.
This book got me hooked from page one! Let’s just say it has a killer opening act. I didn’t want to stop reading, and I hated anything and anyone who interrupted me.
The premise of this book is so cool, teenagers with unusual powers coming together to fight whatever evil is chasing them. I know, it sounds like a teenage version of heroes! But I liked that it isn’t. They were just regular kids, with issues. Big ones! And they acted out on them, especially Mara. So the plot is enticing and true. Even if it features extraordinary or unusual kids, it doesn’t idealize them; it portrays them in all their teenage might.
But what I enjoyed the most was the mystery that surrounded it all, and deep underlying issues behind Mara’s story. My complaint is that I want more!! There were some issues unresolved, so I’m really hoping to get my answers in book 2.
As I already implied, the characters were very truthful, in spite of their peculiar abilities of course. They felt like real teenagers, but with bigger issues. Mature enough to understand what was at stake but childish enough to have some impulsive outbursts.
At first I couldn’t connect with Mara. She was pushing everyone out, was always in a bad mood, and annoyed me a bit; but as you get to know her and learn about her, she grows on you. She really teaches you a lesson on not to prejudice someone without knowing their background; and for what the author lets on you could tell she had a very difficult childhood, that ought to harden you at the very least. It was great to see her grow and find a place where she feels comfortable or at least a group she can be loyal to.
I enjoyed the group dynamics. Their love-hate relationship was something fresh. You could tell they were brought together for survival but started to care for each other. It was a pretty awesome mix.
Finally, I think it’s a bit odd that the book is titled Mara, because it was written in various points of view, especially Mara and Miyuki’s. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining, I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was actually great to get both points of view, because it gave us different approaches to the storytelling, and very diverse focus; just thought it was worth mentioning it.
Overall, it is a thrilling and gripping fantasy story that has very singular aspects to it. It has deep subject matter that underlies the story and loads of mystery that will keep you on an edge until the end.
*Note: I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review, but my opinion was not biased in any way by this fact.
This book got me hooked from page one! Let’s just say it has a killer opening act. I didn’t want to stop reading, and I hated anything and anyone who interrupted me.
The premise of this book is so cool, teenagers with unusual powers coming together to fight whatever evil is chasing them. I know, it sounds like a teenage version of heroes! But I liked that it isn’t. They were just regular kids, with issues. Big ones! And they acted out on them, especially Mara. So the plot is enticing and true. Even if it features extraordinary or unusual kids, it doesn’t idealize them; it portrays them in all their teenage might.
But what I enjoyed the most was the mystery that surrounded it all, and deep underlying issues behind Mara’s story. My complaint is that I want more!! There were some issues unresolved, so I’m really hoping to get my answers in book 2.
As I already implied, the characters were very truthful, in spite of their peculiar abilities of course. They felt like real teenagers, but with bigger issues. Mature enough to understand what was at stake but childish enough to have some impulsive outbursts.
At first I couldn’t connect with Mara. She was pushing everyone out, was always in a bad mood, and annoyed me a bit; but as you get to know her and learn about her, she grows on you. She really teaches you a lesson on not to prejudice someone without knowing their background; and for what the author lets on you could tell she had a very difficult childhood, that ought to harden you at the very least. It was great to see her grow and find a place where she feels comfortable or at least a group she can be loyal to.
I enjoyed the group dynamics. Their love-hate relationship was something fresh. You could tell they were brought together for survival but started to care for each other. It was a pretty awesome mix.
Finally, I think it’s a bit odd that the book is titled Mara, because it was written in various points of view, especially Mara and Miyuki’s. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining, I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was actually great to get both points of view, because it gave us different approaches to the storytelling, and very diverse focus; just thought it was worth mentioning it.
Overall, it is a thrilling and gripping fantasy story that has very singular aspects to it. It has deep subject matter that underlies the story and loads of mystery that will keep you on an edge until the end.
*Note: I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review, but my opinion was not biased in any way by this fact.
September 3, 2016
Thanks to the author for giving me this ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
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You give me a chance to read a book about special powers and I’ll be hard-pressed to say no. Such was the case when Mara by Veronica Bane rolled my direction. All the time I run into books where people can randomly time travel with no tools to assist them or they are literally strong enough to take Atlas’s place holding the planet. (P.S. Go search “earth's mass”. I mean, come on… that’s a lot to hold.) While those are fun to read about, I don’t really find them realistic.
Mara is full of characters that can control the elements. Mara herself can control fire. Another character named Miyuki can control water. Lightning, earth, rocks, et cetera… if there is an element there is probably someone who possesses the ability to control it. I don’t know about you, but I find it SO possible for someone to draw on and control nature. I want to pull water from a pond with my hands. I want to set things on fire with just my hands. Reading Mara is basically vicariously having those powers. It’s so accessible that it makes you feel like maybe, if you try hard enough, you’ll be able to do it too.
I think the accessibility of the story is my favorite thing about Mara. Obviously I’m not about to go outside and move a boulder just by waving my hands, but I know that I do not have to be an alien from a different planet to do it. (I mean, that dream is pretty hopeless anyway, but you get what I mean.) Everything the characters can do in the book can be done even though they are just human… really cool humans.
As if the super powers aren’t enough, in the town of Jericho there are also social and cultural tensions and a lot of little subplots sort of make the book feel almost contemporary. Those other points aren’t fleshed out enough to hold a candle to the main topic (READ: super powers), but they are definitely there.
As a whole I wish Mara had a little more to it in the way of depth and world building. It was a good read, but I felt a little bit left out of the situation like a child who was told only half of the story. Still, it’s short and sweet—okay, well… it’s not sweet per se, because the story is sort of dark—and very interesting.
Mara is a very fast paced novella that will definitely keep you on the edge of your seat and ready to read more. If you’ve ever wished to have a cool power I especially recommend it to you.
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You give me a chance to read a book about special powers and I’ll be hard-pressed to say no. Such was the case when Mara by Veronica Bane rolled my direction. All the time I run into books where people can randomly time travel with no tools to assist them or they are literally strong enough to take Atlas’s place holding the planet. (P.S. Go search “earth's mass”. I mean, come on… that’s a lot to hold.) While those are fun to read about, I don’t really find them realistic.
Mara is full of characters that can control the elements. Mara herself can control fire. Another character named Miyuki can control water. Lightning, earth, rocks, et cetera… if there is an element there is probably someone who possesses the ability to control it. I don’t know about you, but I find it SO possible for someone to draw on and control nature. I want to pull water from a pond with my hands. I want to set things on fire with just my hands. Reading Mara is basically vicariously having those powers. It’s so accessible that it makes you feel like maybe, if you try hard enough, you’ll be able to do it too.
I think the accessibility of the story is my favorite thing about Mara. Obviously I’m not about to go outside and move a boulder just by waving my hands, but I know that I do not have to be an alien from a different planet to do it. (I mean, that dream is pretty hopeless anyway, but you get what I mean.) Everything the characters can do in the book can be done even though they are just human… really cool humans.
As if the super powers aren’t enough, in the town of Jericho there are also social and cultural tensions and a lot of little subplots sort of make the book feel almost contemporary. Those other points aren’t fleshed out enough to hold a candle to the main topic (READ: super powers), but they are definitely there.
As a whole I wish Mara had a little more to it in the way of depth and world building. It was a good read, but I felt a little bit left out of the situation like a child who was told only half of the story. Still, it’s short and sweet—okay, well… it’s not sweet per se, because the story is sort of dark—and very interesting.
Mara is a very fast paced novella that will definitely keep you on the edge of your seat and ready to read more. If you’ve ever wished to have a cool power I especially recommend it to you.
March 22, 2014
Book Review originally published here: http://www.iheartreading.net/reviews/...
Mara tells the story of a group of teenagers, Unusuals, who’ve just begun to learn about their powers and abilities. Mara is the main character, and other notable characters are Miyuki, Chris, Alex and Miles. Mara’s past is riddled with dark mysteries, from how she escaped her home to how she fled away from her brother. She’s a little on the dark side as far as teenagers go – she’s tough, not afraid to fight anyone who stands in her way, but she’s also quite depressed, and blames herself for a lot of things that happened to her. She hasn’t had the easiest childhood, and the effects of the abuse follow her today.
It was hard to sympathize with Mara at first. I thought she’d gone through something bad in her childhood, but had no idea was. It was only when it was made clear, that I began to truly feel sorry for her.
Mara and her friends each control and element. Mara’s element is fire. She’s spent her whole life hiding her abilities, but when the other members of her group tell her they have similar abilities, she begins to realize she’s not the only one with certain powers. But when a loner is forced to work together, things start to get hectic fast, and Mara has to fight against her own nature and learn to work with others. Especially when some people, led by a mysterious fellow named The Stranger, are out to get them. When her brother returns to town, Mara will have to overcome her fears fast, before he damages her even more than he already has.
I mentioned before how hard it was to like Mara at the start, but her bad girl – attitude grew on me as the book progressed. By the end, I liked her more than all the others. She’s not afraid in the face of a challenge, and she won’t go down without a fight, two qualities I like about people. The secondary characters were okay as well. Mara’s brother was evil, but still very intriguing. The Stranger is still a mystery, and I’m eager to read more about him and find out who he is. Miyuki was okay, although she did act arrogant at times. Chris and Miles were okay, but they didn’t leave a lasting impression.
Overall, this book was a great read. The plot had a few original elements that I enjoyed, and the characters were overall quite enjoyable. A good start for this series of young adult fantasy novellas.
Mara tells the story of a group of teenagers, Unusuals, who’ve just begun to learn about their powers and abilities. Mara is the main character, and other notable characters are Miyuki, Chris, Alex and Miles. Mara’s past is riddled with dark mysteries, from how she escaped her home to how she fled away from her brother. She’s a little on the dark side as far as teenagers go – she’s tough, not afraid to fight anyone who stands in her way, but she’s also quite depressed, and blames herself for a lot of things that happened to her. She hasn’t had the easiest childhood, and the effects of the abuse follow her today.
It was hard to sympathize with Mara at first. I thought she’d gone through something bad in her childhood, but had no idea was. It was only when it was made clear, that I began to truly feel sorry for her.
Mara and her friends each control and element. Mara’s element is fire. She’s spent her whole life hiding her abilities, but when the other members of her group tell her they have similar abilities, she begins to realize she’s not the only one with certain powers. But when a loner is forced to work together, things start to get hectic fast, and Mara has to fight against her own nature and learn to work with others. Especially when some people, led by a mysterious fellow named The Stranger, are out to get them. When her brother returns to town, Mara will have to overcome her fears fast, before he damages her even more than he already has.
I mentioned before how hard it was to like Mara at the start, but her bad girl – attitude grew on me as the book progressed. By the end, I liked her more than all the others. She’s not afraid in the face of a challenge, and she won’t go down without a fight, two qualities I like about people. The secondary characters were okay as well. Mara’s brother was evil, but still very intriguing. The Stranger is still a mystery, and I’m eager to read more about him and find out who he is. Miyuki was okay, although she did act arrogant at times. Chris and Miles were okay, but they didn’t leave a lasting impression.
Overall, this book was a great read. The plot had a few original elements that I enjoyed, and the characters were overall quite enjoyable. A good start for this series of young adult fantasy novellas.
January 1, 2014
Mara is a thrill ride of emotion that will appeal to those who enjoy Avatar: The Last Airbender or Legend of Korra.
I really enjoyed the plot and pacing of Mara. I’ve fallen in love with the idea of being able to control the elements thanks to the two shows I mentioned above. It’s so cool so see someone take something as wild and dangerous as fire and learn to control it, so it’s no surprise that I really loved that portion of this book. The characters really personify the element that they have sway over and I liked seeing them mingle as a group, their personalities clashing and to see them struggle to overcome their differences. The plot revolving around the killing and kidnapping of others with similar powers was also really interesting and while I enjoyed the thriller type approach to it, I really wish I knew why some people developed the powers and others didn’t. I also wish I understood the whole Native thing, because I felt kind of lost on that aspect. However the story overall is pretty solid and the pacing makes this a quick read.
The really great thing about Mara is that the characters are all really different. Mara is really tough and quick to anger, she is just as fiery as her element and her past is really painful. I appreciated the flashbacks which gave some insight on why someone would grow up to be so unforgiving and place so much distance between her and everyone else. Besides Mara I really liked Miles, who is a normal kid but has placed himself directly in the middle of the danger. He really tries to be useful though he feels he’s pretty useless and I like how despite that he still tries. The other characters like Miyuki, Terry and Chris, have some really great personalities but in the case of Alex and Zach I found myself kind of disgusted.
Overall Mara was a fast paced and quick read that I found really fun, however I would have loved to have a tiny bit more world building. I’m not really sure about the ending and if this is a standalone or a start of a series, because every is left kind of open but I see no evidence that this is going to continue in another book. I do really hope that it does though because I really want to see what happens to the group and I’m hoping that Zach gets what he deserves.
I really enjoyed the plot and pacing of Mara. I’ve fallen in love with the idea of being able to control the elements thanks to the two shows I mentioned above. It’s so cool so see someone take something as wild and dangerous as fire and learn to control it, so it’s no surprise that I really loved that portion of this book. The characters really personify the element that they have sway over and I liked seeing them mingle as a group, their personalities clashing and to see them struggle to overcome their differences. The plot revolving around the killing and kidnapping of others with similar powers was also really interesting and while I enjoyed the thriller type approach to it, I really wish I knew why some people developed the powers and others didn’t. I also wish I understood the whole Native thing, because I felt kind of lost on that aspect. However the story overall is pretty solid and the pacing makes this a quick read.
The really great thing about Mara is that the characters are all really different. Mara is really tough and quick to anger, she is just as fiery as her element and her past is really painful. I appreciated the flashbacks which gave some insight on why someone would grow up to be so unforgiving and place so much distance between her and everyone else. Besides Mara I really liked Miles, who is a normal kid but has placed himself directly in the middle of the danger. He really tries to be useful though he feels he’s pretty useless and I like how despite that he still tries. The other characters like Miyuki, Terry and Chris, have some really great personalities but in the case of Alex and Zach I found myself kind of disgusted.
Overall Mara was a fast paced and quick read that I found really fun, however I would have loved to have a tiny bit more world building. I’m not really sure about the ending and if this is a standalone or a start of a series, because every is left kind of open but I see no evidence that this is going to continue in another book. I do really hope that it does though because I really want to see what happens to the group and I’m hoping that Zach gets what he deserves.
November 28, 2013
Veronica Bane’s MARA is an intriguing tale about a group of misfits finding common ground and friendship amid social tensions in the town of Jericho.
As for characterization, it’s a bit weak, but again, it’s a novella and you can’t go into in-depth character development otherwise you sacrifice other aspects such as narrative. Our main character is Mara who has the ability to control fire and comes from a troubled past. We get to meet her brother briefly and it’s pretty apparent they have a rocky relationship. Mara does not live with him and instead went to live in Jericho with her aunt and uncle. Then we have Miyuki who can control water and unlike Mara is just coming to terms with what she can do. Other characters can control elements such as lighting, rocks, and wind. We have a few secondary characters whose role isn’t widely known until towards the end and it adds a bit of mystery to the plot.
I liked MARA, but wish it had been longer in order to fully appreciate the world Bane builds. I also feel that we are given a glimpse into the setting, but not enough and I realize it’s a novella and there’s only so much you can do, but I’m still left with questions. The most important one, why people branded as Natives (or Unusuals) were targeted and what type of trouble were they apparently causing? Why are they such a threat? I’d also like to know what happened once they were rounded up. Bane gives us an insight to their fate, but I’m still curious and I’m sure a few were able to escape. If they did, where did they go? I’d also like to know more about Mara’s personal background and her family dynamics.
Overall, MARA is fast paced and a satisfactory read. I’m not sure if Bane has plans to expand on this and make it into a series, if so it has the potential to become amazing! Fans of YA especially those who love dystopian books will enjoy Veronica Bane’s MARA. I’ll be keeping an eye out for Bane and can’t wait to see if she expands on MARA.
This review and more are posted at Literary, etc.
As for characterization, it’s a bit weak, but again, it’s a novella and you can’t go into in-depth character development otherwise you sacrifice other aspects such as narrative. Our main character is Mara who has the ability to control fire and comes from a troubled past. We get to meet her brother briefly and it’s pretty apparent they have a rocky relationship. Mara does not live with him and instead went to live in Jericho with her aunt and uncle. Then we have Miyuki who can control water and unlike Mara is just coming to terms with what she can do. Other characters can control elements such as lighting, rocks, and wind. We have a few secondary characters whose role isn’t widely known until towards the end and it adds a bit of mystery to the plot.
I liked MARA, but wish it had been longer in order to fully appreciate the world Bane builds. I also feel that we are given a glimpse into the setting, but not enough and I realize it’s a novella and there’s only so much you can do, but I’m still left with questions. The most important one, why people branded as Natives (or Unusuals) were targeted and what type of trouble were they apparently causing? Why are they such a threat? I’d also like to know what happened once they were rounded up. Bane gives us an insight to their fate, but I’m still curious and I’m sure a few were able to escape. If they did, where did they go? I’d also like to know more about Mara’s personal background and her family dynamics.
Overall, MARA is fast paced and a satisfactory read. I’m not sure if Bane has plans to expand on this and make it into a series, if so it has the potential to become amazing! Fans of YA especially those who love dystopian books will enjoy Veronica Bane’s MARA. I’ll be keeping an eye out for Bane and can’t wait to see if she expands on MARA.
This review and more are posted at Literary, etc.
August 16, 2013
*I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*
High schooler Mara Tucker can create and manipulate fire, for years using it to harm those who have hurt her in some way. She thinks that she is the only person out there who can do what she does, but she is about to be proven wrong. There are numerous "unusuals" living in the town of Jericho where she has lived for years with her Uncle. At the same time she discovers that she is not alone in having special powers, teenagers start going missing in Jericho. Mara and her allies begin to wonder if they could be among the next to disappear.
After an amazing prologue that provided me with a healthy mix of action and intrigue that pulled me into the story, the plot follows a slower path leading up to Mara discovering that there are others like her. It isn't overly slow, just noticeably slower than the prologue, but it's necessary. It is during this time that you learn who that Mara is not the typical main character, she's the quintessential anti-heroine, and you catch glimpses of what happened to make her that way.
Once Mara begins to team up with others, the book's pacing picks up and I couldn't put it down. Mara's allies enhance the story and make what could have been an okay book with out them a highly enjoyable book. My favorite by far is Miles. He's kind, smart, and out to prove himself an asset. How could you not like that?
Overall, Mara skillfully blends heavier issues with great action and believable teenage attitudes. The plot contains a healthy dose of fantasy within it's contemporary setting. I was satisfied with the ending, but I truly hope that Veronica Bane continues the story of this group. I would definitely read it.
*Review abridged from my book review blog Reading the Alphabet
High schooler Mara Tucker can create and manipulate fire, for years using it to harm those who have hurt her in some way. She thinks that she is the only person out there who can do what she does, but she is about to be proven wrong. There are numerous "unusuals" living in the town of Jericho where she has lived for years with her Uncle. At the same time she discovers that she is not alone in having special powers, teenagers start going missing in Jericho. Mara and her allies begin to wonder if they could be among the next to disappear.
After an amazing prologue that provided me with a healthy mix of action and intrigue that pulled me into the story, the plot follows a slower path leading up to Mara discovering that there are others like her. It isn't overly slow, just noticeably slower than the prologue, but it's necessary. It is during this time that you learn who that Mara is not the typical main character, she's the quintessential anti-heroine, and you catch glimpses of what happened to make her that way.
Once Mara begins to team up with others, the book's pacing picks up and I couldn't put it down. Mara's allies enhance the story and make what could have been an okay book with out them a highly enjoyable book. My favorite by far is Miles. He's kind, smart, and out to prove himself an asset. How could you not like that?
Overall, Mara skillfully blends heavier issues with great action and believable teenage attitudes. The plot contains a healthy dose of fantasy within it's contemporary setting. I was satisfied with the ending, but I truly hope that Veronica Bane continues the story of this group. I would definitely read it.
*Review abridged from my book review blog Reading the Alphabet
February 20, 2015
Book Title : Mara (Unusuals #1)
Author: Veronica Bane
Publisher: Black Hill Press
Release date: August 3rd 2013
Format: Paperback ;176 pages
Review:
Mara is a novella which revolves around a group of teenagers who seem to have special powers, but focuses more on Mara rather than the entire Group !
At first, we clearly see that Mara has a troubled past, but exactly how? This is what you find out as read the book.The story keeps on giving you these small clues about her past, then leaves you starving for the next couple of chapters,making me want to read the book in just one sitting ! I got a hint of what Mara could do simply by observing the beautiful book cover. Where everyone seems to have a shadow due to the flames around them and of course, her Burning hand !
Mara and the * Unusuals* with the help of few #normal friends , discover the secret agenda the Government has on them and decide to take an action.
The Novella was a fast yet a refreshing read. Although it was short, yet all of the characters were well developed and you get to see different angles of the situation through each character (good or bad), which is an amazing thing since it is less than 200 pages.
I think Veronica Bane did a pretty decent job with her debut Novella and literally can't wait for Book 2: Miyuki ( comes out this year :D!) , who is another awesome Unusual !
Check it on Amazon :
_ http://www.amazon.com/Mara-Contempora...
December 28, 2013
Mara can create and manipulate fire. She's used this in the past to harm people that have hurt her. However, Mara thinks that she's the only one like it.
After an incident when she was younger, she now lives with her uncle in a town called Jericho. Where she learns that there are others like her.
Mara seems to have a really tough time making friends. She can be rude and doesn't always care about other peoples feelings.
I must admit that this book took me a few attempts to read, and the only reason I can see for that is the books that I had read prior to this one must have caused a book hangover!
On my 4th attempt I was totally hooked and thoroughly enjoyed reading Mara. So please don't let me struggling to read this a few times put you off because the book is a really good read.
I like how there are a few chapters set around some of the other characters so you get to understand more about them too, and what things are like for them.
Once Mara teams up with the other "unusuals" the pace of the book seems to pick up a little more; not that it's slow paced in the first place. (The "unusuals" have the ability to control/manipulate the elements: earth, wind, fire, water, rocks and lightning). Veronica Bane has written a story that feels real and gritty, and is well paced throughout.
I was left uncertain about the setting for the story; I know its a town called Jericho but I'm unsure as to when; past, present or future.
After an incident when she was younger, she now lives with her uncle in a town called Jericho. Where she learns that there are others like her.
Mara seems to have a really tough time making friends. She can be rude and doesn't always care about other peoples feelings.
I must admit that this book took me a few attempts to read, and the only reason I can see for that is the books that I had read prior to this one must have caused a book hangover!
On my 4th attempt I was totally hooked and thoroughly enjoyed reading Mara. So please don't let me struggling to read this a few times put you off because the book is a really good read.
I like how there are a few chapters set around some of the other characters so you get to understand more about them too, and what things are like for them.
Once Mara teams up with the other "unusuals" the pace of the book seems to pick up a little more; not that it's slow paced in the first place. (The "unusuals" have the ability to control/manipulate the elements: earth, wind, fire, water, rocks and lightning). Veronica Bane has written a story that feels real and gritty, and is well paced throughout.
I was left uncertain about the setting for the story; I know its a town called Jericho but I'm unsure as to when; past, present or future.
March 13, 2014
Full review at http://thebookshelfgargoyle.wordpress...
I received a digital copy of this book for review as part of the "Miyuki" blog tour.
Ten Second Synopsis:
Cranky teen with fire-wielding power seeks out others in Jericho with similar talents. Unfortunately, others are also seeking Mara's ilk, for nefarious purposes.
Mara was a quick, edgy read. I felt that this was a lot different from a lot of the YA that I have read recently, as the atmosphere was quite dark and menacing for the most part. Also, Bane does a great job of conjuring up the scene with her descriptive writing and it felt at times more like I was watching a movie than reading a book. I'd love to see this series in a graphic novel format as the action and fight sequences would work fantastically well with illustrations.
Recommended for those who like their YA fantasy with a sharp, dark edge.
I received a digital copy of this book for review as part of the "Miyuki" blog tour.
Ten Second Synopsis:
Cranky teen with fire-wielding power seeks out others in Jericho with similar talents. Unfortunately, others are also seeking Mara's ilk, for nefarious purposes.
Mara was a quick, edgy read. I felt that this was a lot different from a lot of the YA that I have read recently, as the atmosphere was quite dark and menacing for the most part. Also, Bane does a great job of conjuring up the scene with her descriptive writing and it felt at times more like I was watching a movie than reading a book. I'd love to see this series in a graphic novel format as the action and fight sequences would work fantastically well with illustrations.
Recommended for those who like their YA fantasy with a sharp, dark edge.
January 13, 2014
Mara is a really unique novella about a group of misfits who are hunted down due to their powers. This fantasy novella has some really great themes that are intertwined within the story like being proud of you are and finding your inner strength. The tale is a bit quirky but I found it refreshing. One reason I love novella's is that they are not wordy or weighted down by pointless dialogue. I am also able to easily admire the elements of good writing because of it's length. I think Mara could be used in classroom's as a great alternative to the Outsiders. It has some of the same timeless themes but more excitement because it is fiction!
February 6, 2014
Mara by Veronica Bane is a project of Black Hills Press–an independent publishing company dedicated to the novella. So Mara was short, but there’s more coming. The sequel, Miyuki, will be out in 2014.
Mara is the first book I’ve read that could be classified as “suburban” fantasy–the titular heroine and her fellow Unusuals live in the small desert town of Jericho, which segregates the “Natives” from the normal folks. The first book in the Unusuals series, Mara is about a group of high schoolers with strange powers to control the elements–in Mara’s case, fire...
Read the rest of my review at http://giantsquidbooks.com/2014/02/06...
Mara is the first book I’ve read that could be classified as “suburban” fantasy–the titular heroine and her fellow Unusuals live in the small desert town of Jericho, which segregates the “Natives” from the normal folks. The first book in the Unusuals series, Mara is about a group of high schoolers with strange powers to control the elements–in Mara’s case, fire...
Read the rest of my review at http://giantsquidbooks.com/2014/02/06...
July 30, 2013
I loved this novella for many reasons. I love books that have a young protagonist, and the protagonists in this book are layered and interesting. Also, the world in Mara is really well built, and I'm always a fan of angst among teenagers. This book doesn't pull its punches in regards to violence and other issues. The dialogue is well written and snappy because the teenagers sound like real teenagers. Excellent read and looking forward to more.
July 18, 2015
I really liked this novella. It included a very great story which includes my favourite thing, supernatural powers! This book screamed out to me from the synopsis. The characters were good an the writing was very smooth and enjoyable. Can't wait to read more form this author. Would recommend to anyone interested in a supernatural book. Great short read!
I won this book in a goodreads first reads Giveaway.
I won this book in a goodreads first reads Giveaway.
Read
December 3, 2015Graded By: Mandy C.
Cover Story: Graphic Novel Wallpaper
BFF Charm: Eventually
Swoonworthy Scale: 2
Talky Talk: And Now … The Weather
Bonus Factors: Superpowers, Diversity
Anti-bonus Factor: Cliffhanger
Relationship Status: Looking Glass
Read the full book report here.
Cover Story: Graphic Novel Wallpaper
BFF Charm: Eventually
Swoonworthy Scale: 2
Talky Talk: And Now … The Weather
Bonus Factors: Superpowers, Diversity
Anti-bonus Factor: Cliffhanger
Relationship Status: Looking Glass
Read the full book report here.
September 17, 2014
Awkward teenage angst, mysterious small town, and superpowers!
Well executed story. I could not put the book down. Am I a sucker for mysterious villains? Yes. Teens with elemental powers are fighting for their lives while having to deal with their pasts and personal pain. The town of Jericho will never be the same.
Well executed story. I could not put the book down. Am I a sucker for mysterious villains? Yes. Teens with elemental powers are fighting for their lives while having to deal with their pasts and personal pain. The town of Jericho will never be the same.
October 22, 2013
I loved this book! I started it and could not put it down. I read it almost straight through, finishing in just under 24 hours. The story has plenty of action and enough mystery to keep the reader turning pages without becoming wordy or tedious; an all around good story and a great read.
March 6, 2015
little baby superheroes (okay, young adult superheroes, but still), figuring out their powers. dark and depressing though; wish there'd been something besides some awkwardly funny dialogue to brighten it up a bit. good, quick read; interested to see how the story continues!
September 17, 2013
I met Veronica during a journalism class, and since we have become friends, I definitely wanted to give her book a try. It was a fast and very enjoyable novella. I look forward to the sequel!
October 4, 2013
3.5/5
Check out my review here.
Check out my review here.
August 26, 2013
My friend from college wrote this so you should read it in support of her. :) It's a fun, quick read.
September 5, 2013
I really enjoyed this book!! It was well written with plenty of colorful, descriptive words, making it easy to read & visualize. I had a hard time putting it down!
November 30, 2013
It's a novella so it's not as developed as I'd like it to be. It was a good read though. Interesting group of characters.
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