What do you think?
Rate this book
Newsoul #0.5
Phoenix Overture
In the wilds around the Community where Sam and his family have taken shelter, life is dangerous. Dragons, trolls, centaurs, and other monsters fill the world. The word comes from the council that everyone must leave and journey to rescue their leader, Janan, who has been abducted by a mysterious new enemy in the north. Faced with overwhelming threats that bring death and destruction, Sam and the others reach the northern Range and, reunited with Janan, are given an unimaginable opportunity. Although it would give them the privilege to live and learn and love without fear, the choice is not without its own dire consequences. And lives—though not theirs—are sure to be lost. Just how much are they willing to give up to save themselves?
138 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 3, 2013
22 people are currently reading
2879 people want to read
About the author
Jodi Meadows
34 books4,707 followersI write books. I snuggle cats. I drink coffee.
--
Feel free to send a friend request. I don't reply to Goodreads messages; email is preferred.
--
Feel free to send a friend request. I don't reply to Goodreads messages; email is preferred.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 125 reviews
Read
July 24, 2013Ta da!
I’ve gotten a lot of requests for a story from Sam’s point of view, and it seems the fine people at HarperCollins have heard your cries, as well. Now (well, in September) you can have a Sam story on your ereader!
Technically, PHOENIX OVERTURE is a prequel. It happens lifetimes before INCARNATE. But, as some of you have figured out, there’s a lot about the world that Ana’s trying to learn all through INCARNATE and ASUNDER — and the distant past is one of those mysteries.
Which means if you’re sensitive to spoilers, I’d read PHOENIX OVERTURE after you read ASUNDER. It’s safe to read this before INFINITE, though. (Otherwise we’d wait to publish this.)
So is this Incarnate .5 or 2.5? It’s sort of both.
UPDATE: I JUST SAW THE COVER.
Swoooooon. Just . . . swoooooon!
Reveal happening soon.
I’ve gotten a lot of requests for a story from Sam’s point of view, and it seems the fine people at HarperCollins have heard your cries, as well. Now (well, in September) you can have a Sam story on your ereader!
Technically, PHOENIX OVERTURE is a prequel. It happens lifetimes before INCARNATE. But, as some of you have figured out, there’s a lot about the world that Ana’s trying to learn all through INCARNATE and ASUNDER — and the distant past is one of those mysteries.
Which means if you’re sensitive to spoilers, I’d read PHOENIX OVERTURE after you read ASUNDER. It’s safe to read this before INFINITE, though. (Otherwise we’d wait to publish this.)
So is this Incarnate .5 or 2.5? It’s sort of both.
UPDATE: I JUST SAW THE COVER.
Swoooooon. Just . . . swoooooon!
Reveal happening soon.
December 26, 2013
Is that...Sam?
September 4, 2013
WARNING: This review contains massive spoilers for ASUNDER.
One of the nice things about having writer friends is that you sometimes get to read their books early. When I read Asunder, I was rocked by . The scene where Ana sees is one of the most haunting images I have come across in any book, fantasy or otherwise. It was a brilliant stroke of world-building and a complete punch to the gut.
That scene lingered in my head long after I finished the book. I wondered how Sam and Cris--two characters I loved--could have agreed to such a thing.
So I started pestering Jodi to write the scene where Sam . Jodi, an overachiever, decided to write an entire novella.
And I am so glad she did.
Phoenix Overture is equal parts fantasy and post-apocalyptic adventure. In it, we get to see a handful of key Incarnate characters in their first lives, and we get a glimpse of how the friendships and relationships they forged in those lives carry over through all of the lives to come. We see the manipulation of Janan and the horrible choice his followers are faced with. In the end, the question isn't "how could they agree to this" but "who would be strong enough not to?"
One of the nice things about having writer friends is that you sometimes get to read their books early. When I read Asunder, I was rocked by . The scene where Ana sees is one of the most haunting images I have come across in any book, fantasy or otherwise. It was a brilliant stroke of world-building and a complete punch to the gut.
That scene lingered in my head long after I finished the book. I wondered how Sam and Cris--two characters I loved--could have agreed to such a thing.
So I started pestering Jodi to write the scene where Sam . Jodi, an overachiever, decided to write an entire novella.
And I am so glad she did.
Phoenix Overture is equal parts fantasy and post-apocalyptic adventure. In it, we get to see a handful of key Incarnate characters in their first lives, and we get a glimpse of how the friendships and relationships they forged in those lives carry over through all of the lives to come. We see the manipulation of Janan and the horrible choice his followers are faced with. In the end, the question isn't "how could they agree to this" but "who would be strong enough not to?"
September 13, 2013
I had a great time reading this novella! Seeing Sam at his awkwardest was something that I’d have never guessed but I adored the way he cared for his brother as well as his best friend. It’s wonderful to see him and Stef help one another out at times when they had to face life-threatening situations. I had never liked Meuric and Li, and this novella confirmed their hideous nature. Janan was a formidable man and here, we got to see why no one dared to challenge and oppose him. If you’re like me, who’d felt puzzled by the overt hostility of those who hated new souls, you’d want to pick up this novella. While Phoenix Overture did not offer us a direct answer, it showed us the hardship as well as the fears of those who followed Janan five millennia ago. Through seeing what they had to go through, I began to recognize a similar sense of insecurity that they had when they were forced to face the unknown. Did that give them the excuse to behave maliciously? No, but it helped me see that they’re victims and not the villains I had assumed. I guess I’ll have to wait till Infinite comes out to discover what Janan was really up to but if I could make a wish, I’d wish that Ana and Sam had their happily ever after in the end.
--
Originally posted on LeisureReads.com
--
Originally posted on LeisureReads.com
December 16, 2013
Actual Rating 3.5
I read and loved Incarnate but when I tried reading Asunder, I couldn’t get into the book. After reading this novella though, I believe I am finally ready to pick up Asunder.
Jodi creates this wonderful world that is so enchanting and so original but in spite of that I cannot overlook how much Sam annoys me.
I don’t dislike him, not at all; I just cannot seem to like him either. I did love him while reading Incarnate but this novella just makes him seem pathetic. I can understand why he is the way he is but it doesn’t mean I have to like it. He is too damn sensitive. I don’t have anything against sensitive men, hell Sam from Shiver, one of my all-time favorite male leads was sensitive, but this Sam cannot seem to pull it off. He is too naïve for my tastes.
I really did enjoy seeing his wonderful relationship with his brother and I loved seeing how he and Stef became friends. Both relationships were developed beautifully.
This novella explains a lot about the world of Incarnate and I only wish it had been published before Asunder came out, that way I would have looked forward to it more.
This mini review has also been posted on Tangled in Pages
I read and loved Incarnate but when I tried reading Asunder, I couldn’t get into the book. After reading this novella though, I believe I am finally ready to pick up Asunder.
Jodi creates this wonderful world that is so enchanting and so original but in spite of that I cannot overlook how much Sam annoys me.
I don’t dislike him, not at all; I just cannot seem to like him either. I did love him while reading Incarnate but this novella just makes him seem pathetic. I can understand why he is the way he is but it doesn’t mean I have to like it. He is too damn sensitive. I don’t have anything against sensitive men, hell Sam from Shiver, one of my all-time favorite male leads was sensitive, but this Sam cannot seem to pull it off. He is too naïve for my tastes.
I really did enjoy seeing his wonderful relationship with his brother and I loved seeing how he and Stef became friends. Both relationships were developed beautifully.
This novella explains a lot about the world of Incarnate and I only wish it had been published before Asunder came out, that way I would have looked forward to it more.
This mini review has also been posted on Tangled in Pages
February 17, 2015
Honestly, this novella only raised new questions instead of answer ones I already had. I have tons of questions, but my biggest would be Gaaah, I is confused. Hopefully these questions get answered in Infinite.
July 3, 2013
Fan-freaking-tastic. PHOENIX OVERTURE will give INCARNATE series fans a nice appetizer to hold them until INFINITE.
January 27, 2015
Even though this is a prequel, Phoenix Overture fits nicely with the mystery from Asunder. This was a great novella sharing Sam's life from Before, even if it broke my heart.
Blog review
I'm going to go ahead and warn you right now. Ana is not in this novella. At all. No awesome Samana kissing scenes. Total bummer, I know. Now get over it. Those two crazy kids make out enough in Incarnate. And Asunder. And Infinite, apparently. Phoenix Overture is Sam's story so give our boy a chance. Not only do we meet young Sam, but events that transpire in Phoenix directly relate to the primary plot of the trilogy. Basically, this is the origin story of the trilogy. Is it 100% essential to read? You can read the trilogy and not read Phoenix, and you'll still know what's going on. BUT WHY WOULD YOU NOT READ IT?! 1. Sam. 2. You know all that crazy stuff that went down at the end of both Incarnate and Asunder? You figure out why all that happened. 3. Sam. 4. Sam is taken, but did you know Sam had a brother? I sure didn't, but now I'm in love. 5. Sam's brother is single. Awww, yeah. Reasons 6-5342583. Sam. All Sam, all the time.
I think the best part of Phoenix Overture really is the added depth to Sam's character. Sam has, to put it lightly, serious daddy issues. Also some mommy issues, but we'll call it 84-16 dad-to-mom issue ratio. He has a lot of baggage. Sam is so open, so kind, so loving in Incarnate and Asunder. To see what he overcame to become that way is really inspiring. It's so weird because he's a timid boy and not the musical virtuoso in Phoenix, but we get to witness his evolution into a more confident man. Plus, we get to see lots of adorable scenes with his big brother Fayden (dibsity dibs!) and the moment he becomes friends with Stef.
The other great part of Phoenix Overture really is the origin story. Janan being a macho and mucho pain in the butt? Check. Other characters from Incarnate and Asunder being directly involved in the events that caused the tilogy? Check. The creation of the epic Sam-vs-the-dragons battle across the millenia? CHECK.
While this novella doesn't showcase the amazing Jodi Meadows patent romance, it does show off Jodi's awesome epic fantasy-writing skills. There's adventure and danger and so. many. feels. I sobbed openly during the last two and a half chapters and yelled at my tablet for the last one. So...yeah. Prepare to have your heart ripped out and drooled on by an acid-spitting dragon. You know what? Worth it. I am now more excited for Infinite than ever!
Blog review
I'm going to go ahead and warn you right now. Ana is not in this novella. At all. No awesome Samana kissing scenes. Total bummer, I know. Now get over it. Those two crazy kids make out enough in Incarnate. And Asunder. And Infinite, apparently. Phoenix Overture is Sam's story so give our boy a chance. Not only do we meet young Sam, but events that transpire in Phoenix directly relate to the primary plot of the trilogy. Basically, this is the origin story of the trilogy. Is it 100% essential to read? You can read the trilogy and not read Phoenix, and you'll still know what's going on. BUT WHY WOULD YOU NOT READ IT?! 1. Sam. 2. You know all that crazy stuff that went down at the end of both Incarnate and Asunder? You figure out why all that happened. 3. Sam. 4. Sam is taken, but did you know Sam had a brother? I sure didn't, but now I'm in love. 5. Sam's brother is single. Awww, yeah. Reasons 6-5342583. Sam. All Sam, all the time.
I think the best part of Phoenix Overture really is the added depth to Sam's character. Sam has, to put it lightly, serious daddy issues. Also some mommy issues, but we'll call it 84-16 dad-to-mom issue ratio. He has a lot of baggage. Sam is so open, so kind, so loving in Incarnate and Asunder. To see what he overcame to become that way is really inspiring. It's so weird because he's a timid boy and not the musical virtuoso in Phoenix, but we get to witness his evolution into a more confident man. Plus, we get to see lots of adorable scenes with his big brother Fayden (dibsity dibs!) and the moment he becomes friends with Stef.
The other great part of Phoenix Overture really is the origin story. Janan being a macho and mucho pain in the butt? Check. Other characters from Incarnate and Asunder being directly involved in the events that caused the tilogy? Check. The creation of the epic Sam-vs-the-dragons battle across the millenia? CHECK.
While this novella doesn't showcase the amazing Jodi Meadows patent romance, it does show off Jodi's awesome epic fantasy-writing skills. There's adventure and danger and so. many. feels. I sobbed openly during the last two and a half chapters and yelled at my tablet for the last one. So...yeah. Prepare to have your heart ripped out and drooled on by an acid-spitting dragon. You know what? Worth it. I am now more excited for Infinite than ever!
August 27, 2014
Can I just say how much more I love Sam after reading this? It was so wonderful to see finally where everyone came from, how they got to Range, and even more wonderful to see was that Sam had this deep-set love for music from his very first lifetime. I felt bad that he lost his brother when they were so close - I was reading it racking my brain for where I'd seen the name "Fayden" in the books, and then he died and realized I never had and it killed me. It was also cool to see (in a sad sort of way) the similarities in how Sam & Ana were raised in their first lifetimes. Granted, Sam had a way better mom - at least he had that going for him.
Anyways, I loved this. The characters were definitely younger, less experienced, and were living completely different lives than what we'd first seen them doing when reading "Incarnate," but you can see the traits that have carried them through: Li's general asshattery, Sam's desire to help people no matter the cost, Whit & Orrin's love of history.
I have to ask though, for anyone who reads this review... Did Sam's story of his mother being eaten/killed by the troll make you think of Eren and his mom in "Attack on Titan?" Because as much as I love Sam, and as heartbroken as I was for him, that was the scene I thought of and I burst out laughing.
Jodi, can there be more Sam books/novellas/flash fiction stories? He's so wonderful and has so many stories to tell - like that one life when he couldn't hear! Or all that he's shared with Stef - I'd love to know what he was saying to Stef when she died in "Infinite."
ANYWAYS. I'll try to stop gushing. This was great. I love this series. I wish someone would write a score for it >.<
Anyways, I loved this. The characters were definitely younger, less experienced, and were living completely different lives than what we'd first seen them doing when reading "Incarnate," but you can see the traits that have carried them through: Li's general asshattery, Sam's desire to help people no matter the cost, Whit & Orrin's love of history.
I have to ask though, for anyone who reads this review... Did Sam's story of his mother being eaten/killed by the troll make you think of Eren and his mom in "Attack on Titan?" Because as much as I love Sam, and as heartbroken as I was for him, that was the scene I thought of and I burst out laughing.
Jodi, can there be more Sam books/novellas/flash fiction stories? He's so wonderful and has so many stories to tell - like that one life when he couldn't hear! Or all that he's shared with Stef - I'd love to know what he was saying to Stef when she died in "Infinite."
ANYWAYS. I'll try to stop gushing. This was great. I love this series. I wish someone would write a score for it >.<
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 11, 2013
Sam's origin story!! loved every word of it! Fayden, Stef, Whit, Orrin, the music hall, the Center, the trek north, centaurs, DRAGONS!, Janan, Meuric. I love when an interstitial novella gives me everything I want. The brother relationship between Sam and Fayden, agh my heart! Lovely writing by Jodi Meadows, really really can't wait for Infinite now!
I definitely recommend waiting until you've read Incarnate and Asunder before downloading Phoenix Overture as it tells part of the story that comes out as a huge secret in Asunder! That aside, this novella had everything I wanted. I loved learning how Sam discovered music and how his life was like in his original incarnation. The character development was phenomenal and Fayden and Sam's story was really touching. At it's basic, this story is about a broken family and how these two brothers reconnect with each other and try to survive. We also get a glimpse of some of the other characters from the series. This series origin story is quite chilling but also full of heart. This is a great series for fans of YA fantasy/dystopia and romance!
I definitely recommend waiting until you've read Incarnate and Asunder before downloading Phoenix Overture as it tells part of the story that comes out as a huge secret in Asunder! That aside, this novella had everything I wanted. I loved learning how Sam discovered music and how his life was like in his original incarnation. The character development was phenomenal and Fayden and Sam's story was really touching. At it's basic, this story is about a broken family and how these two brothers reconnect with each other and try to survive. We also get a glimpse of some of the other characters from the series. This series origin story is quite chilling but also full of heart. This is a great series for fans of YA fantasy/dystopia and romance!
May 11, 2014
DNF.
I'm really, really surprised with the outcome of this one. Jodi Meadows is one of my absolute favourite authors and has written one of my favourite fantasy-dystopia trilogies, Newsoul, but reading this novella just brought my happiness to the drain.
In the first two books of Newsoul (haven't read the third yet) I loved Sam, and finding out that he has a novella in his perspective just made me squeal. I was ready for his hottie-ness. *winks*
This is the longest novella that I've ever heard of. 138 pages of Sam? I thought that it was totally worth it and when I began to read this, I was bored out of my mind. It would've been better if there was no Sam's perspective and that's all.
I was just utterly dissatisfied with the outcome, but I still am excited to read the final book, and whatever Jodi Meadows comes up with.
I'm really, really surprised with the outcome of this one. Jodi Meadows is one of my absolute favourite authors and has written one of my favourite fantasy-dystopia trilogies, Newsoul, but reading this novella just brought my happiness to the drain.
In the first two books of Newsoul (haven't read the third yet) I loved Sam, and finding out that he has a novella in his perspective just made me squeal. I was ready for his hottie-ness. *winks*
This is the longest novella that I've ever heard of. 138 pages of Sam? I thought that it was totally worth it and when I began to read this, I was bored out of my mind. It would've been better if there was no Sam's perspective and that's all.
I was just utterly dissatisfied with the outcome, but I still am excited to read the final book, and whatever Jodi Meadows comes up with.
March 12, 2015
This would have been much better if we'd gotten what happened after they went into the tower, and the experience of their first life. Since it was told in first person, that made it nearly impossible to get that side of the story. Unfortunate.
May 10, 2014
This cover is absolutely stunning; I'm absolutely speechless!
July 24, 2019
“There was music in me, but in this post-Cataclysm world, that didn't matter very much.”
I always like reading novellas, because they always bring something that adds to the world, the characters or the main plot and this one wasn't different. Actually, some things that happen here were really important to my understanding of some things that happened in book 2 of the main trilogy.
In this story, we meet the 'original' Sam, the one from before Heart. We know more of his backstory, how he met Stef and other well-know characters and we can better understand a bit how this world came to be like we see in Newsoul - a kind of post-apocalyptic world where magic is back, a bit like in The Shannara Chronicles. We also see where Sam first started out with his love of music, how the whole Janan/reincarnation thing came to pass and all that. But, as much as we get some much-needed context, it gave me more answers that I need to get from the final book in the trilogy and I'm not sure I'm gonna get. That is one of my problems with this series, the not as well developed world-building.
Sam is also a very meh protagonist - he doesn't have this presence, he just stands in the background for most of everything and I felt like it could be any number of characters narrating this story that it wouldn't have made a difference. I'm interested to see what will happen in the third book and how the author will finish this story.
October 27, 2019
Meh all around. I probably should have read this when I was actually in the middle of the series like 4 years ago.
May 18, 2020
So sad and a devastating ending, but I now need to read the series for more. Lol Even though this is a prequel I really wish I had read this after the series. It will definitely color the other books with a dynamic not seen originally.
September 7, 2013
SAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM.
*****
I'm going to start this off by saying that reviewing novellas is hard. (In fact, putting a rating was HARD. I'm not even sure if that's how I'd rate it, even though I really disliked nothing about this. It's just hard to say how I thought about it!) It's not easy to say whether I loved or liked it because of the length, and it's just not super easy (not that novels are) to put into words. So, I shall try my best. And I'll try to keep things somewhat vague so as not to spoil anything.
Also, did you know that Jodi's original title for Phoenix Overture was Bad Things Happen (To Sam)? Because that initial title is actually quite accurate.
In case you didn't know, Phoenix Overture is a novella that goes with the fabulous Newsoul trilogy by Jodi Meadows, and is suggested to be read after the second book, Asunder. I've heard that there are a few things from the first two books that can be recognized in the novella, and there are some familiar characters. I read this novella about seven months after reading Asunder, so my memory was a little spotty, but it was still totally readable. However, if you want to read Phoenix Overture and recognize all the little references, I'd recommend at least scanning the other books to refresh your memory, because I didn't see some of the references (though some things felt familiar, and that doesn't alter how I feel about the novella).
As for the novella itself, it's a nice (or not-so-nice, really) look into Sam pre-everything. It's Sam before souls were reincarnated, and it shows what his life was like and how reincarnation basically started. And oh, my Sam. My poor, poor Sam. I love Sam (or Dossam), and his life was filled with so many troubles, from an abusive father to lots of loss. I just wanted to reach through my Kindle and hug the poor guy; he didn't deserve so many things that came his way.
Fortunately, the whole novella wasn't all My-Poor-Baby-Sam. Things did look up...for a while, at least. He had two people that were there for him, one of whom was Stef. (Hmm, I think that name sounds familiar...) I enjoyed their friendship and how they were there for each other, and to see that it has lasted so long. (Forgive me if Stef is not who I think he is; like I said, my memory is spotty!)
One thing I really liked about Phoenix Overture was that it was different from Incarnate and Asunder. The world is different, the voice is different, and it separates itself (in a good way) from the trilogy. The writing and Sam's thoughts--I loved his love for music, which has been there for years--were great, and I appreciated how Meadows could be...is eclectic the word? I just liked how she was able to write two different things (or POVs) without having them sound like the same one.
In the end, Phoenix Overture is a nice insight intomy boyfriend Sam and how the world of the Newsoul trilogy came to be. Really, I think I could've read the novella as a full-length novel, with more on Sam and what happened after the end of the book, and more on the mechanics, so to speak, of how the whole reincarnation really happened and came to be. (Which may have been mentioned in the previous books, but I don't remember.) If Jodi Meadows decides to write more about Sam, I wouldn't mind reading it. (I would totally read it.) In the meantime...can I have Infinite now?
This review was originally posted on my blog Beauty and the Bookshelf.
*****
I'm going to start this off by saying that reviewing novellas is hard. (In fact, putting a rating was HARD. I'm not even sure if that's how I'd rate it, even though I really disliked nothing about this. It's just hard to say how I thought about it!) It's not easy to say whether I loved or liked it because of the length, and it's just not super easy (not that novels are) to put into words. So, I shall try my best. And I'll try to keep things somewhat vague so as not to spoil anything.
Also, did you know that Jodi's original title for Phoenix Overture was Bad Things Happen (To Sam)? Because that initial title is actually quite accurate.
In case you didn't know, Phoenix Overture is a novella that goes with the fabulous Newsoul trilogy by Jodi Meadows, and is suggested to be read after the second book, Asunder. I've heard that there are a few things from the first two books that can be recognized in the novella, and there are some familiar characters. I read this novella about seven months after reading Asunder, so my memory was a little spotty, but it was still totally readable. However, if you want to read Phoenix Overture and recognize all the little references, I'd recommend at least scanning the other books to refresh your memory, because I didn't see some of the references (though some things felt familiar, and that doesn't alter how I feel about the novella).
As for the novella itself, it's a nice (or not-so-nice, really) look into Sam pre-everything. It's Sam before souls were reincarnated, and it shows what his life was like and how reincarnation basically started. And oh, my Sam. My poor, poor Sam. I love Sam (or Dossam), and his life was filled with so many troubles, from an abusive father to lots of loss. I just wanted to reach through my Kindle and hug the poor guy; he didn't deserve so many things that came his way.
Fortunately, the whole novella wasn't all My-Poor-Baby-Sam. Things did look up...for a while, at least. He had two people that were there for him, one of whom was Stef. (Hmm, I think that name sounds familiar...) I enjoyed their friendship and how they were there for each other, and to see that it has lasted so long. (Forgive me if Stef is not who I think he is; like I said, my memory is spotty!)
One thing I really liked about Phoenix Overture was that it was different from Incarnate and Asunder. The world is different, the voice is different, and it separates itself (in a good way) from the trilogy. The writing and Sam's thoughts--I loved his love for music, which has been there for years--were great, and I appreciated how Meadows could be...is eclectic the word? I just liked how she was able to write two different things (or POVs) without having them sound like the same one.
In the end, Phoenix Overture is a nice insight into
This review was originally posted on my blog Beauty and the Bookshelf.
September 10, 2013
Review originally posted at Step Into Fiction
Actual Rating 4.5
If you have NOT read Incarnate & Asunder, please read with caution. There are some spoilers that were unavoidable. Proceed with caution . . .
It's nice getting a look at the brilliant mind of Dossam, being able to see his love and passion for music first hand. It's also interesting getting a look at his family, his loving and caring mother, his abusive and drunk father and his older brother, Fayden, who is an interesting character (plus, I'm kind of in love with his name). He's not much of a brother until that changes the day Dossam meets his best friend, Stef. Insert squeal here. Finding out how these two become friends was just exciting and the second he said his name and the way they met was just . . . it made me giddy, to say the least.
I love novellas. They're short, they're sweet (or not) but they usually give you a peek into a characters head that we normally don't see. That's the main reason I love novellas. Sure, most books are told from one characters point of view so we know them really well and we think we know the other characters just as well but you read a novella from one of their points of views and realize there's so much more to them. That is how I felt reading this. It was fascinating, getting a glimpse into Sam's past, how Heart came to be, to see some of these characters we know in the current setting back when everything started. It was especially interesting seeing Sam's first interaction with a dragon, since we all know how he feels about them.
So many bad things happen to Sam in this short story; to the point where you really want to reach in and give him a hug. Which is silly because we see him in Incarnate, Asunder and soon in Infinite and he's fine. Well, as fine as one could be. But knowing everything he went through, from the beginning of his life until his current life is just . . . it's hard a pill to swallow. But hopefully there will be plenty of light at the end of his tunnel.
Sam's musical talents have always interested me; from someone who very big into performing music as a child through my teen years, it's so exciting seeing such a great character having the same passion. Sadly, while his passion has not faded him, it has myself. However, seeing how he came to be in his music and what inspired his want, no his need to play, it's great. His love for music trumps everything (except maybe Ana, in my opinion . . . ).
This is a great novella to satisfy your hunger for Infinite. If you haven't read Asunder, do not read this novella as there are spoilers. Yes, even though it takes place before Incarnate there are future spoilers for Asunder, weird, I know but there you have it! We all love Sam and being given the chance to get a peek, as small as it may be, is perfection. I know I'm twitching to open the pages of Infinite.
Actual Rating 4.5
If you have NOT read Incarnate & Asunder, please read with caution. There are some spoilers that were unavoidable. Proceed with caution . . .
It's nice getting a look at the brilliant mind of Dossam, being able to see his love and passion for music first hand. It's also interesting getting a look at his family, his loving and caring mother, his abusive and drunk father and his older brother, Fayden, who is an interesting character (plus, I'm kind of in love with his name). He's not much of a brother until that changes the day Dossam meets his best friend, Stef. Insert squeal here. Finding out how these two become friends was just exciting and the second he said his name and the way they met was just . . . it made me giddy, to say the least.
I love novellas. They're short, they're sweet (or not) but they usually give you a peek into a characters head that we normally don't see. That's the main reason I love novellas. Sure, most books are told from one characters point of view so we know them really well and we think we know the other characters just as well but you read a novella from one of their points of views and realize there's so much more to them. That is how I felt reading this. It was fascinating, getting a glimpse into Sam's past, how Heart came to be, to see some of these characters we know in the current setting back when everything started. It was especially interesting seeing Sam's first interaction with a dragon, since we all know how he feels about them.
So many bad things happen to Sam in this short story; to the point where you really want to reach in and give him a hug. Which is silly because we see him in Incarnate, Asunder and soon in Infinite and he's fine. Well, as fine as one could be. But knowing everything he went through, from the beginning of his life until his current life is just . . . it's hard a pill to swallow. But hopefully there will be plenty of light at the end of his tunnel.
Sam's musical talents have always interested me; from someone who very big into performing music as a child through my teen years, it's so exciting seeing such a great character having the same passion. Sadly, while his passion has not faded him, it has myself. However, seeing how he came to be in his music and what inspired his want, no his need to play, it's great. His love for music trumps everything (except maybe Ana, in my opinion . . . ).
This is a great novella to satisfy your hunger for Infinite. If you haven't read Asunder, do not read this novella as there are spoilers. Yes, even though it takes place before Incarnate there are future spoilers for Asunder, weird, I know but there you have it! We all love Sam and being given the chance to get a peek, as small as it may be, is perfection. I know I'm twitching to open the pages of Infinite.
October 1, 2013
As opposed to Incarnate and Asunder which are told in Ana’s voice, Phoenix Overture is Dossam’s story. Thousands of years before he meets Ana. And before reincarnation is even an issue.
I was excited to get my hands on a copy of this novella, as I absolutely enjoyed the first couple of books in the Incarnate series. And I’ll be even more excited when Infinite comes out in January, 2014.
I really loved and enjoyed Incarnate and Asunder, the first two books in the trilogy. And Dossam is a fantastic character.
This novella from Dossam’s POV deals with life 5000 years prior to Incarnate, before the white wall, before Janan has executed his eternal life plan. The main danger Dossam’s community had to face was trolls. He had parents, a brother, and each of the people in the community had their own talent with which they contributed.
All his life Dossam had suffered at his father’s hand. He didn’t have a skill, couldn’t work, build, teach, etc. His only talent was music, and in times of drought, that helps no one. His mother used to teach him in hiding and protect him from his father’s abusive behavior, but after she dies in a troll attack, no one can protect him. He then meets Stef, and now has someone who believes he’s not useless.
When Janan is kidnapped, the entire community sets out to save him. After a journey which takes months, and the lives of half the people, they reach the white wall. There, they discover Janan’s plan, that he wasn’t taken, and that they must choose – reincarnate or die.
Phoenix Overture is exceptionally well written and is, in line with the first two books, very lyrical. I think Ana’s POV flows better and for some reason the story in her voice was received better for me. It felt more interesting and the pace was more engaging.
Having said that, this novella clears a lot about how life was before, when people lived their lives, died and didn’t return. About who came up with the plan to live forever, how they achieved it, and Dossam’s and Stef’s feelings and involvement.
It’s a quick read, so even if for the sake of getting an insight into Dossam’s mind, heart and actions – it’s worth it!
My rating: 3.5 stars.
The review can also be found on The Book Hammock!
I was excited to get my hands on a copy of this novella, as I absolutely enjoyed the first couple of books in the Incarnate series. And I’ll be even more excited when Infinite comes out in January, 2014.
I really loved and enjoyed Incarnate and Asunder, the first two books in the trilogy. And Dossam is a fantastic character.
This novella from Dossam’s POV deals with life 5000 years prior to Incarnate, before the white wall, before Janan has executed his eternal life plan. The main danger Dossam’s community had to face was trolls. He had parents, a brother, and each of the people in the community had their own talent with which they contributed.
All his life Dossam had suffered at his father’s hand. He didn’t have a skill, couldn’t work, build, teach, etc. His only talent was music, and in times of drought, that helps no one. His mother used to teach him in hiding and protect him from his father’s abusive behavior, but after she dies in a troll attack, no one can protect him. He then meets Stef, and now has someone who believes he’s not useless.
When Janan is kidnapped, the entire community sets out to save him. After a journey which takes months, and the lives of half the people, they reach the white wall. There, they discover Janan’s plan, that he wasn’t taken, and that they must choose – reincarnate or die.
Phoenix Overture is exceptionally well written and is, in line with the first two books, very lyrical. I think Ana’s POV flows better and for some reason the story in her voice was received better for me. It felt more interesting and the pace was more engaging.
Having said that, this novella clears a lot about how life was before, when people lived their lives, died and didn’t return. About who came up with the plan to live forever, how they achieved it, and Dossam’s and Stef’s feelings and involvement.
It’s a quick read, so even if for the sake of getting an insight into Dossam’s mind, heart and actions – it’s worth it!
My rating: 3.5 stars.
The review can also be found on The Book Hammock!
December 15, 2013
This review originally appeared on my blog, Leeanna.me.
==
I don’t usually read novellas, but I jumped on PHOENIX OVERTURE for a couple of reasons. One: the Newsoul trilogy is one of my all-time favorites, and I’m impatiently waiting for the release of the last book, INFINITE. Two: I love Jodi Meadows’s writing. Three: I wanted a peek into Sam’s head.
PHOENIX OVERTURE is Sam’s story, when he lived in a world where there was true death, and it lurked behind every corner. If you remember some of the revelations of ASUNDER, the novella fills in the gaps of how the citizens of Range came to be reincarnated lifetime after lifetime. If it’s been a while since you’ve read INCARNATE or ASUNDER, don’t worry -- you won’t be lost. It’s been a while since I read them, but details came back to me as I read this novella. There are quite a few familiar names, from Stef to Cris, from Li to Meuric. There are dragons and centaurs, too.
At first, Sam’s story is pretty sad. His father hates him, his brother doesn’t like him, and his mother, the only person who understood him, is dead. The only good thing in life Sam has is music, but it’s dangerous to sneak into the old city to play the only piano left. The Sam in this novella is reminiscent of the Sam we know in the Newsoul series. I feel like the life he had before being reincarnated explains some of why he helps Ana in the series, even if he doesn’t remember that life.
Overall, I enjoyed PHOENIX OVERTURE. It’s the perfect story to tide you over if, like me, you are desperately waiting for INFINITE.
==
See more of my reviews:
==
I don’t usually read novellas, but I jumped on PHOENIX OVERTURE for a couple of reasons. One: the Newsoul trilogy is one of my all-time favorites, and I’m impatiently waiting for the release of the last book, INFINITE. Two: I love Jodi Meadows’s writing. Three: I wanted a peek into Sam’s head.
PHOENIX OVERTURE is Sam’s story, when he lived in a world where there was true death, and it lurked behind every corner. If you remember some of the revelations of ASUNDER, the novella fills in the gaps of how the citizens of Range came to be reincarnated lifetime after lifetime. If it’s been a while since you’ve read INCARNATE or ASUNDER, don’t worry -- you won’t be lost. It’s been a while since I read them, but details came back to me as I read this novella. There are quite a few familiar names, from Stef to Cris, from Li to Meuric. There are dragons and centaurs, too.
At first, Sam’s story is pretty sad. His father hates him, his brother doesn’t like him, and his mother, the only person who understood him, is dead. The only good thing in life Sam has is music, but it’s dangerous to sneak into the old city to play the only piano left. The Sam in this novella is reminiscent of the Sam we know in the Newsoul series. I feel like the life he had before being reincarnated explains some of why he helps Ana in the series, even if he doesn’t remember that life.
Overall, I enjoyed PHOENIX OVERTURE. It’s the perfect story to tide you over if, like me, you are desperately waiting for INFINITE.
==
See more of my reviews:
December 19, 2013
So, when I found out that Jodi would be writing a novella to go along with this series, I squeed. When I saw it was from Dossam's POV, I jumped around for joy! I just love Sam. I didn't even care what it was about so long as I could see things from his POV.
And this was not disappointing in the least. I think the most interesting thing about this novella is it's from Sam's POV as a young boy of 15. I was not expecting that in the least. The novella read a bit like a middle grade read because he was younger in this story, but it was not at all boring. I loved Sam's voice.
The story shows us his relationship with his mother, father and brother and how it affected him. How he was always a bit of an outcast because of his love of music. And the story demonstrates how the music shaped him and was always part of his life from the very beginning, even before we were introduced to him.
It's a story of courage and remorse. A story of looking inside and finding out who you are and using that to make yourself happy, and to make the people around you understand who you are. It's sad and heart wrenching at times, giving us a key look into Sam's quiet and reserved nature (born of mistrust and fear).
The book also introduces us to Stef as his young friend. It's interesting to see how they met and how their friendship was borne and solidified.
It's so hard to review a novella because you don't want to spoil anything for the reader who has not read the books as of yet. I will say that this novella could certainly be read prior to starting the series, as it might give more insight into who Dossan truly is. It also introduces us to the world of Heart at it's beginnings. Any way you choose to read it, you won't be disappointed in Meadow's writing and prose.
This just made me that much more excited for Infinite!
And this was not disappointing in the least. I think the most interesting thing about this novella is it's from Sam's POV as a young boy of 15. I was not expecting that in the least. The novella read a bit like a middle grade read because he was younger in this story, but it was not at all boring. I loved Sam's voice.
The story shows us his relationship with his mother, father and brother and how it affected him. How he was always a bit of an outcast because of his love of music. And the story demonstrates how the music shaped him and was always part of his life from the very beginning, even before we were introduced to him.
It's a story of courage and remorse. A story of looking inside and finding out who you are and using that to make yourself happy, and to make the people around you understand who you are. It's sad and heart wrenching at times, giving us a key look into Sam's quiet and reserved nature (born of mistrust and fear).
The book also introduces us to Stef as his young friend. It's interesting to see how they met and how their friendship was borne and solidified.
It's so hard to review a novella because you don't want to spoil anything for the reader who has not read the books as of yet. I will say that this novella could certainly be read prior to starting the series, as it might give more insight into who Dossan truly is. It also introduces us to the world of Heart at it's beginnings. Any way you choose to read it, you won't be disappointed in Meadow's writing and prose.
This just made me that much more excited for Infinite!
July 6, 2016
Let me begin this review by warning you all that I'm supremely biased when it comes to the Newsoul series, as you can tell from my reviews of Incarnate and Asunder. It's phenomenally written, incredibly inventive, and Jodi Meadows has created a boy that I absolutely adore named Sam. It is so not a surprise then that I adored Phoenix Overture, in spite of the fact that it's (1) short and (2) set in Sam's life before he met Ana.
In my notes, I simply wrote, "GOD, I ADORE SAM." It's basically the entire reason that this novella worked for me. I love Sam, so it made my novella purchase worth it just to learn more about him. Readers get a glimpse into his past, including his relationships then. He and his mother had a strong connection because of their musical abilities, while he and his father didn't exactly see eye to eye on his usefulness. And then, there's his brother Fayden, who I initially didn't like, but ended up really loving, and also Cris, who other fans might recall from the previous books in the series. Each of these people contributed greatly towards making Sam who he is when Ana meets him, and just thinking about that made the story even more interesting.
Phoenix Overture, even though it reads as a prequel novella, is actually better read after the first two books in this series. By then, readers will be invested in Sam and will enjoy this look into his past life as much as I did. Jodi Meadows weaves a very strong tale in a short amount of pages, and I look forward to seeing what happens next to Sam and Ana in Infinite, the final book in the Newsoul series.
(originally posted on the blog)
In my notes, I simply wrote, "GOD, I ADORE SAM." It's basically the entire reason that this novella worked for me. I love Sam, so it made my novella purchase worth it just to learn more about him. Readers get a glimpse into his past, including his relationships then. He and his mother had a strong connection because of their musical abilities, while he and his father didn't exactly see eye to eye on his usefulness. And then, there's his brother Fayden, who I initially didn't like, but ended up really loving, and also Cris, who other fans might recall from the previous books in the series. Each of these people contributed greatly towards making Sam who he is when Ana meets him, and just thinking about that made the story even more interesting.
Phoenix Overture, even though it reads as a prequel novella, is actually better read after the first two books in this series. By then, readers will be invested in Sam and will enjoy this look into his past life as much as I did. Jodi Meadows weaves a very strong tale in a short amount of pages, and I look forward to seeing what happens next to Sam and Ana in Infinite, the final book in the Newsoul series.
(originally posted on the blog)
January 21, 2014
BAD THINGS HAPPEN
Okay, in all seriousness - that is definitely an adequate summary of this novella (of the whole series, quite frankly), but it's all magic and beautiful in it's own way, even with the Bad Things.
Phoenix Overture is an excellent and integral addition to the Newsoul series. In it we learn all about Sam's difficult first life. We learn how he discovers music, and about his family and their journey - both in their relationships to one another and to their new home and their new way of life - reincarnation. Sam, ever the musician, describes his world beautifully with sounds, and it's easy to imagine and immerse yourself in his life. Sam feels irrelevant in his world, and it's tough to see him living that life when we know how important he is. "What was music when humanity's greatest survival was a desperate hope, not a guarantee?" But we see Sam find himself, his strengths, his offerings to his world.
"The cost for endless life had to be tremendous." This actually reminds me of something an economics professor said in school - it's something people say all the time, but when he said it, it made sense to me (something had to make sense in that class!) - he said 'nothing in life is free.' This novella is an excellent example of that - what does Sam pay to get to where he ends up, what does he pay (and does everyone else pay) to be endlessly reincarnated?
Some novellas make me mad - you pay $.99-$2.99 for them and you get what feels like not much, but PO is definitely worth it's cost. A must read for fans of the series.
Okay, in all seriousness - that is definitely an adequate summary of this novella (of the whole series, quite frankly), but it's all magic and beautiful in it's own way, even with the Bad Things.
Phoenix Overture is an excellent and integral addition to the Newsoul series. In it we learn all about Sam's difficult first life. We learn how he discovers music, and about his family and their journey - both in their relationships to one another and to their new home and their new way of life - reincarnation. Sam, ever the musician, describes his world beautifully with sounds, and it's easy to imagine and immerse yourself in his life. Sam feels irrelevant in his world, and it's tough to see him living that life when we know how important he is. "What was music when humanity's greatest survival was a desperate hope, not a guarantee?" But we see Sam find himself, his strengths, his offerings to his world.
"The cost for endless life had to be tremendous." This actually reminds me of something an economics professor said in school - it's something people say all the time, but when he said it, it made sense to me (something had to make sense in that class!) - he said 'nothing in life is free.' This novella is an excellent example of that - what does Sam pay to get to where he ends up, what does he pay (and does everyone else pay) to be endlessly reincarnated?
Some novellas make me mad - you pay $.99-$2.99 for them and you get what feels like not much, but PO is definitely worth it's cost. A must read for fans of the series.
October 5, 2013
It's nice getting a look at the brilliant mind of Dossam, being able to see his love and passion for music first hand. It's also interesting getting a look at his family, his loving and caring mother, his abusive and drunk father and his older brother, Fayden, who is an interesting character (plus, I'm kind of in love with his name). He's not much of a brother until that changes the day Dossam meets his best friend, Stef. Insert squeal here. Finding out how these two become friends was just exciting and the second he said his name and the way they met was just . . . it made me giddy, to say the least.
I love novellas. They're short, they're sweet (or not) but they usually give you a peek into a characters head that we normally don't see. That's the main reason I love novellas. Sure, most books are told from one characters point of view so we know them really well and we think we know the other characters just as well but you read a novella from one of their points of views and realize there's so much more to them. That is how I felt reading this. It was fascinating, getting a glimpse into Sam's past, how Heart came to be, to see some of these characters we know in the current setting back when everything started. It was especially interesting seeing Sam's first interaction with a dragon, since we all know how he feels about them.
Read full review at Step Into Fiction
Review completed by: Jessica
I love novellas. They're short, they're sweet (or not) but they usually give you a peek into a characters head that we normally don't see. That's the main reason I love novellas. Sure, most books are told from one characters point of view so we know them really well and we think we know the other characters just as well but you read a novella from one of their points of views and realize there's so much more to them. That is how I felt reading this. It was fascinating, getting a glimpse into Sam's past, how Heart came to be, to see some of these characters we know in the current setting back when everything started. It was especially interesting seeing Sam's first interaction with a dragon, since we all know how he feels about them.
Read full review at Step Into Fiction
Review completed by: Jessica
September 13, 2013
Review Originally Posted at The Society's Bookshelf
I was a big fan of Sam in the Newsoul books, so I was pretty excited that there was a novella chock full of Sam goodness. Phoenix Overture is only the second novella I’ve read. I’m not really that big of a fan of them. It seems just as the going gets good, it’s over! It makes me frustrated and ragey, but at the same time it’s like getting bonus glimpses into a world of love filled with characters I adore. Which makes me hard to stay frustrated and ragey for very long.
I loved that this was a Sam prequel but also shed a lot of light on the other characters we’ve come across in Incarnate and Asunder. I loved getting to see how Sam and Stef met, and seeing the early seeds of their friendship. It was interesting to see the council members and Janan got everyone involved in the scheme we discover in Asunder.
It was hard to experience Sam’s upbringing, and seeing the similarities between his and Ana’s parents and how that’s affected their beings. What was almost heartbreaking for me was not only Sam’s relationship with his father, but also his relationship with music. Of course he had a natural disposition for music, but we discover what really drove his love of all things music.
I don’t feel Phoenix Overture is a necessary read for the series, but it was a nice little addition to this series and I’m glad I was able to read it.
I was a big fan of Sam in the Newsoul books, so I was pretty excited that there was a novella chock full of Sam goodness. Phoenix Overture is only the second novella I’ve read. I’m not really that big of a fan of them. It seems just as the going gets good, it’s over! It makes me frustrated and ragey, but at the same time it’s like getting bonus glimpses into a world of love filled with characters I adore. Which makes me hard to stay frustrated and ragey for very long.
I loved that this was a Sam prequel but also shed a lot of light on the other characters we’ve come across in Incarnate and Asunder. I loved getting to see how Sam and Stef met, and seeing the early seeds of their friendship. It was interesting to see the council members and Janan got everyone involved in the scheme we discover in Asunder.
It was hard to experience Sam’s upbringing, and seeing the similarities between his and Ana’s parents and how that’s affected their beings. What was almost heartbreaking for me was not only Sam’s relationship with his father, but also his relationship with music. Of course he had a natural disposition for music, but we discover what really drove his love of all things music.
I don’t feel Phoenix Overture is a necessary read for the series, but it was a nice little addition to this series and I’m glad I was able to read it.
September 5, 2013
Phoenix Overture is a look at the past, the very early past of the world we met in Incarnate, and we get to meet our dear Dossam in his first live, when he first discovers his love for music, when he first gets his nickname Sam... all before he started reincarnating for the next five thousand years, give or take!
As Jodi Meadows herself said, despite being a prequel it's better if you read Phoenix Overture right after you're done with Asunder, cause it gives answers to a lot of questions that are answered in Asunder, and expands in them a little bit, so you won't spoil the surprises.
It does give us some answers, about Janan, about who lives in Heart and how did they came to do so, and it also gives you a lot of perspective on the character and motivations of some characters we already know from Incarnate and Asunder. Some you start loving already and some you find even better reason to dislike them even more.
Sam's story is tough and heartbreaking, with some silver linings but with very hard choices to be made along the way.
And about the story of Heart and Range... we do get some answers but I think I have even more questions on the past and the how and the who/what that I had before! Hopefully I'll get more answers and less questions in Infinite!
A short, intense and quick read, very well deserved 4 stars!
As Jodi Meadows herself said, despite being a prequel it's better if you read Phoenix Overture right after you're done with Asunder, cause it gives answers to a lot of questions that are answered in Asunder, and expands in them a little bit, so you won't spoil the surprises.
It does give us some answers, about Janan, about who lives in Heart and how did they came to do so, and it also gives you a lot of perspective on the character and motivations of some characters we already know from Incarnate and Asunder. Some you start loving already and some you find even better reason to dislike them even more.
Sam's story is tough and heartbreaking, with some silver linings but with very hard choices to be made along the way.
And about the story of Heart and Range... we do get some answers but I think I have even more questions on the past and the how and the who/what that I had before! Hopefully I'll get more answers and less questions in Infinite!
A short, intense and quick read, very well deserved 4 stars!
March 24, 2015
Okay, when I started this I realized I didn't remember much of the events of Asunder. Bad memory is not a new thing for me so I went ahead and read this anyway - and even without it, I enjoyed this book thoroughly. Phoenix Overture tells the story of Dossam before the whole populace of Heart (that is how it is spelled, right?) migrated there. He was a wimpy 15 year old boy who loved music but didn't have a place in a world of warriors and fighters. His father blames him, his brother doesn't understand him but one day he finds a friend in Stef. The way their friendship develops, the events which later on force nearly the whole populace towards Heart and Janan's way to immortality are the key events of the book. What is more special about it is that most of these events are not in the main books - because all the people forgot what made them incarnate in the first place. The writing was moving - especially during the parts where Sam describes the music, I was overwhelmed with feelings. And now after reading this, I am feeling the urge to go over Incarnate and Asunder again, so that I can see it again with the knowledge of this.
June 6, 2014
This was a good novella, and I was surprised to find that it really changed my outlook on Sam. In the first two books of the series, I was viewing him as this wise, steady musical genius who had a fierce love for Ana and was kind of her solid rock through a lot of what's been going on.
In this novella, which takes place before the reincarnations begin, Sam is a young child, hated by his father and grieving over the loss of his mother. In their survival-first society, there's no room for a dreamy kid obsessed with music and good at little else. Sam is scared, and because I'm expecting him to act like the preternaturally mature reincarnated version of himself, the (dare I call it?) cowardice and uncertainty were at odds with his characterization as we know it.
And yet, going into Infinite and reading about Sam's struggles and seeing some of that same fear reappear, it just made him more human. Some of these characters have been so perfect, so wise, so skilled that they just didn't seem real. Sam's fear in this novella enhanced his characterization in Infinite, and made me like him even more.
In this novella, which takes place before the reincarnations begin, Sam is a young child, hated by his father and grieving over the loss of his mother. In their survival-first society, there's no room for a dreamy kid obsessed with music and good at little else. Sam is scared, and because I'm expecting him to act like the preternaturally mature reincarnated version of himself, the (dare I call it?) cowardice and uncertainty were at odds with his characterization as we know it.
And yet, going into Infinite and reading about Sam's struggles and seeing some of that same fear reappear, it just made him more human. Some of these characters have been so perfect, so wise, so skilled that they just didn't seem real. Sam's fear in this novella enhanced his characterization in Infinite, and made me like him even more.
October 21, 2013
I didn't know what to expect with this novella. I was kind of hoping for a bunch of stories from Sam's perspective of him living and dying as different bodies in different lives. That's not what this story is. It is the story of how everything came to be the way it is.
The Cataclysm happened two generations ago and there are not many humans alive. They struggle to survive in a strange new world.
The Sam everyone loves from Incarnate and Asunder is present, just beginning his love of music. Stef also is starting his work as an inventor.
I liked seeing Sam before everything happened. Reading this made me want to reread the first two books before Infinite's release. There are so many questions I have that I hope are answered in the final book.
If you've read Incarnate and Asunder, you should definitely read this. I still want a novella compiling the dragon deaths of Sam, though. I give this novella a 4/5.
The Cataclysm happened two generations ago and there are not many humans alive. They struggle to survive in a strange new world.
The Sam everyone loves from Incarnate and Asunder is present, just beginning his love of music. Stef also is starting his work as an inventor.
I liked seeing Sam before everything happened. Reading this made me want to reread the first two books before Infinite's release. There are so many questions I have that I hope are answered in the final book.
If you've read Incarnate and Asunder, you should definitely read this. I still want a novella compiling the dragon deaths of Sam, though. I give this novella a 4/5.
May 19, 2015
I really liked this sort of prequel novella, we get a chance to see how things were before Janan had did what he did. I loved getting to see Sam in the beginning of his life, how he is and always was the Sam we love in these books and we get to see some familiar faces as well, just in whatever sex form they originally started out as. I really enjoyed this mini insight to the world. I originally wasn't going to read this because I really want to start book three, but I'm beyond glad I did.
If you are just reading these books remember to read this after book two and I definitely recommend it because it gives you that something more into this story that is definitely needed.
If you are just reading these books remember to read this after book two and I definitely recommend it because it gives you that something more into this story that is definitely needed.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 125 reviews