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Pygmalia
Lily is the heir to her father’s family fortune, except she wants no part in it. Especially if it means having to spend months away from her loving mother, being ignored by her genius, yet reclusive father, and tormented by her domineering grandmother.
Since her parents' divorce, Lily has been forced to spend every summer, bored to death, at her father’s dilapidated estate in England. The one consolation is that this is the last summer she will have to visit before her eighteenth birthday frees her of this obligation. What Lily doesn't expect to find is someone who is just as lonely and out of place as she is. Someone that could make her actually want to stay at the rundown mansion.
Deep in the basement of her father’s home, she finds Adam, who is half human, half machine. He is her father’s latest prototype: a creation built for war, but able to do so much more than just basic fighting tactics and artillery protocol. Lily cannot help but be drawn to her father’s experiment, though she’s certain nothing can come of it. When she realizes that Adam will eventually be taken from her and potentially destroyed, she must decide whether putting her family in jeopardy is worth the risk of helping him escape.
Since her parents' divorce, Lily has been forced to spend every summer, bored to death, at her father’s dilapidated estate in England. The one consolation is that this is the last summer she will have to visit before her eighteenth birthday frees her of this obligation. What Lily doesn't expect to find is someone who is just as lonely and out of place as she is. Someone that could make her actually want to stay at the rundown mansion.
Deep in the basement of her father’s home, she finds Adam, who is half human, half machine. He is her father’s latest prototype: a creation built for war, but able to do so much more than just basic fighting tactics and artillery protocol. Lily cannot help but be drawn to her father’s experiment, though she’s certain nothing can come of it. When she realizes that Adam will eventually be taken from her and potentially destroyed, she must decide whether putting her family in jeopardy is worth the risk of helping him escape.
218 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 1, 2013
66 people want to read
About the author
Stephanie Constante
3 books74 followersI'm a lifelong lover of books. I have always wanted to be a writer but never thought it was a realistic goal to try and achieve until now. I studied psychology at Florida International University which will probably explain why there might be a psychological theme in most of my books. I have been working as a psychosocial rehabilitation counselor in Miami for over four years now and apart from the horrible pay, it is a pretty decent job.
When I’m not writing I read an endless amount of Urban Fantasy novels (my favs), hang out with close friends and family, make playlists on my iTunes, and obsess about anything from the UK, particularly their amazing TV shows: Doctor Who, Sherlock, Misfits, The Fades. If you haven’t seen them, please check them out, they are absolutely amazing.
When I’m not writing I read an endless amount of Urban Fantasy novels (my favs), hang out with close friends and family, make playlists on my iTunes, and obsess about anything from the UK, particularly their amazing TV shows: Doctor Who, Sherlock, Misfits, The Fades. If you haven’t seen them, please check them out, they are absolutely amazing.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
August 15, 2013
I could feel him digging into my skull, scraping at my insides, but I never know what he's up to. I feel no pain, I feel no fear. I am like a cuckoo clock, waiting for my parts to be repaired. Today he's back to fiddling with my brain again.
When I first read the synopsis of Pygmalia, I was completely intrigued. It sounded like something that I hadn't read before. A boy who is half human and half machine. Yeah, I really needed to read this one!! I fell in love with the cover on first sight as well. It reminded me of a puzzle with all the different pieces slotted together. And how true did that prove to be upon reading the book.
Since her parents divorce Lily has been forced to go and spend her summer break in England with her father, who more often than not ignores her presence, and her completely overbearing, controlling and generally horrible grandmother. The only consolation this time around is that she knows it will be the last time that she has to endure it since she is turning eighteen very soon.
Lily's father spends a great deal of time locked away in the basement and Lily decides that she's going to uncover exactly what it is that he's doing down there. What Lily doesn't expect to find is what appears to be a dead boy laid out on a table. But on closer inspection she realises that he isn't actually dead. He is the project her father has been working on. Prototype 78 is part human and part machine. He has been scientifically altered and created for war.
Lily and 78 are drawn to each other the more time that they spend together. Even though Lily knows that nothing can come of their feelings, since she is returning to America at the end of summer, she decides that 78 needs a name. And so he becomes Adam.
Pygmalia is told from the alternating voices of Lily and Adam. And while I loved both voices, I think it was Adam's that I was drawn to the most. He has been transformed into a machine built for the purpose of fighting, but despite that, I got such a feeling of vulnerability from him. The author did a great job of getting that side across to us. But he was so determined and single minded when he needed to be, especially when it came to Lily. He was the character that developed the most in my eyes. Although Lily did her fair share of growing as well. By the end of the book she was strong and fierce.
"There are a lot worse things than forgetting who you are," I whisper as we sit in silence, intertwined; just two beings subjected to a world built from lies and casualties.
I really liked the romance between Adam and Lily. It all developed pretty fast. More so from Adam I think, but once you read the circumstances you will understand why. They were each exactly what the other needed in their lives.
While the first portion of the book was dedicated to getting to know the characters better, the second portion was packed full of action and plot twists. There was never really any periods of the story seeming stagnant. Stephanie Constante's writing flows really well and her characters are engaging.
The ending!!! I can see it's set up perfectly for more adventures and discoveries in the next book. I just hope the wait isn't too long!!
I hadn't previously read anything by this author but I have to say that since I enjoyed Pygmailia so much I will definitely be grabbing her other books.
When I first read the synopsis of Pygmalia, I was completely intrigued. It sounded like something that I hadn't read before. A boy who is half human and half machine. Yeah, I really needed to read this one!! I fell in love with the cover on first sight as well. It reminded me of a puzzle with all the different pieces slotted together. And how true did that prove to be upon reading the book.
Since her parents divorce Lily has been forced to go and spend her summer break in England with her father, who more often than not ignores her presence, and her completely overbearing, controlling and generally horrible grandmother. The only consolation this time around is that she knows it will be the last time that she has to endure it since she is turning eighteen very soon.
Lily's father spends a great deal of time locked away in the basement and Lily decides that she's going to uncover exactly what it is that he's doing down there. What Lily doesn't expect to find is what appears to be a dead boy laid out on a table. But on closer inspection she realises that he isn't actually dead. He is the project her father has been working on. Prototype 78 is part human and part machine. He has been scientifically altered and created for war.
Lily and 78 are drawn to each other the more time that they spend together. Even though Lily knows that nothing can come of their feelings, since she is returning to America at the end of summer, she decides that 78 needs a name. And so he becomes Adam.
Pygmalia is told from the alternating voices of Lily and Adam. And while I loved both voices, I think it was Adam's that I was drawn to the most. He has been transformed into a machine built for the purpose of fighting, but despite that, I got such a feeling of vulnerability from him. The author did a great job of getting that side across to us. But he was so determined and single minded when he needed to be, especially when it came to Lily. He was the character that developed the most in my eyes. Although Lily did her fair share of growing as well. By the end of the book she was strong and fierce.
"There are a lot worse things than forgetting who you are," I whisper as we sit in silence, intertwined; just two beings subjected to a world built from lies and casualties.
I really liked the romance between Adam and Lily. It all developed pretty fast. More so from Adam I think, but once you read the circumstances you will understand why. They were each exactly what the other needed in their lives.
While the first portion of the book was dedicated to getting to know the characters better, the second portion was packed full of action and plot twists. There was never really any periods of the story seeming stagnant. Stephanie Constante's writing flows really well and her characters are engaging.
The ending!!! I can see it's set up perfectly for more adventures and discoveries in the next book. I just hope the wait isn't too long!!
I hadn't previously read anything by this author but I have to say that since I enjoyed Pygmailia so much I will definitely be grabbing her other books.
June 3, 2013
WOW. FREAKING WOW. I loved it. To say the least.
A HUGE ASS THANK YOU to Stephanie Constante who sent this to me. And honesty is the best policy is what i have to say. So also I am pretty sure i am the first person to do a review on this? MAYBE? If i am SUPER EXCITING. and cool. Cause i tell it how it is. So let me tell you how it is.
Song choice. "I Gave You All" by Mumford and Sons, ANNNNNNNNNNNNNDDDD even how cheesy this is, i still love this song and i think its pppperrrfect for the most part. "I Will Follow You Into The Dark" by Death Cab for Cutie. (oh if you have no idea what i am talking about when i say song choice i am talking about songs that show a hint/vibe of the book, a certain aspect of it or whatever)
First gushings... i mean thoughts...right...thoughts: Um lets see where to start. Well i am going to be blunt for once (pauses for laughter because usually i am fairly blunt) READ THIS. I don't even care if you don't like Sci-fi, READ THIS. I don't care if you don't think you want to read this, you really do. Because it was just that good. Now i have read Stephanie's other series, and I ABSOLUTELY ADORED THEM as well, and she does not disappoint. Yeah this isn't high fantasy, and yeah there are no dragon shifters or any Aidan. BUT there is Adam (aka prototype 78), and there is just pure awesome-ness. The plot while yes government blah blah blah war machine doesn't feel trite, or over-used or any of that nonsense. Maybe its because i haven't read a scifi in awhile but this felt new to me, it felt exciting, and i couldn't stop myself from reading. Well actually i did a couple times only because people were like BECCA DOOO STUFF WITH ME. or you know my dog JoeJoe who i love to hate attacked me until i went to play with her. otherwise i wouldn't have left this book alone, because unless you know JoeJoe you don't get to judge me.
THOUGHTS ON PLOT: Well like i mentioned in the first thoughts up there, while this is about a cyborg, and scientist and government? (yes imagine me saying that slightly like a question). It doesn't feel like its been overused or the same as all those other scientifically enhanced books. Nope. This doesn't feel like something i read over and over again, or see over and over again. it feels new, and it feels refreshing. And it feels completely and utterly addictive and i demand that you go buy this...sorry getting carried away, but i mean i am sure you have read a book that makes you feel like you need to literally shoved it down other people's throats? I mean come on? you are lying if you are saying you didn't. Anyways, so not only is this story action packed, with some mystery on the side, you get some normal family drama, i mean who doesn't have a 20 something year old cyborg hanging out in their estranged father's basement lab? i know i do....or maybe that is wishful thinking...damn. Anyways yes there is some normal drama in there, and damn if i didn't want to kill our main gal Lils' grandmother. i will get to that in a moment in characters.
Anyways so i know you are wondering, well Becca is there any romance in this? Because you know what i love more on the side of awesome action, mystery and family drama? ROMANCE! well why, yes, yes there is. And there is the perfect, beautiful thing about Stephanie, and i am not that saying that because she sent this to me, because i did pay for her other books so i am glaring at you in a funny disapproving way for you to think of me that way. She writes about romances that are built. Sure its pretty obvious these two seem to have a bond when they first "hanging out" i put in quotation marks because i am not really sure what to call it other than "hanging out" anyways they are two obviously trapped, lonely teenagers. They crave that feeling of acceptance, and understanding, and hell i am 21 and i totally understand that feeling. But while Adam makes his feelings clear, its obvious that it isn't that insta love, and its not something that is dictating what is happening in this book.
There is more i want to say about their love and what nots but SPOILERS, ALSO i will talk about it with characters, which i am going to do NOW.
Characters:
**This is told in the POVs of both Lily, and Adam. Which was interesting and beautifully done, and amazing.**
Lily: Now here is an interesting character. While it seems like in shifting POVs that it would help the reader see the character from a different point of view, i think that sometimes that falls flat, and to be honest sometimes its hard to honestly believe in what your main character is telling you about themselves. This may sound strange but person first narrative can be misleading and the narrator is not always going to be believable. Now Lily is don't get me wrong. But i see things about her that i wouldn't have seen if it hadn't been for Adam's POV shifts. An example of this would be how Adam notices that while she keeps her poker face on, and her emotions internalized, while in Lily's head we know how she is feeling and i almost feel like she feels like she wears her emotions on her sleeve. Now I ADORED Lily. I thought she was sarcastic, and fantastic. *and i giggle* over that. At the beginning of the book it really shows us the type of person that Lily is, she is a compassionate person, who is very down to earth, and values human life. I think that those first few chapters with just Lily was omgosh awesome, why? because it really does paint her in a perfect light, not saying that she is perfect, but we can clearly see who she is, and how she would/might react to certain situations. Super important for this book, and as a general rule for all books. While I admit at first i thought Lily was going to be this meek, quiet girl who allowed her Grandmother WHO WAS A TOTALLY BITCH and this isn't one of those pretend spoilers this is a really big spoiler so don't look if you don't want to know Anyways she might just shock you, i know she shocked me for a moment, then i was like HELL YEAH GIRL YOU tell 'em how it is! loved.her.
Adam aka prototype 78: oh by the way he is the cyborg, really i am not giving anything away if you read the description you know this already. Now while he might be part robot, part human while he might be Dr. Jekyll, Mr. Hyde, Frankenstein's monster, not to be confused with the doctor himself, there is something so, damn swoon worthy about him. NOT TO MENTION if you are guy sorry about the swoon comment, but he also is fucking BAD-ASS. NOW if you are like, please what do you know? UM geek right here. Star Wars, the old ones are the best, LOTRs? if you don't know what it stands for well there is your answer, Dr. Who i mean please i about cried when i found of Matt is leaving, would you like me to go on about my knowledge of bad-assery? NO I DIDN'T THINK SO. Okay so he is dealing with some issues, you know being a human turned weapon with no real emotions besides when it comes to a certain girl who was named after Adam's (the biblical Adam) first's wife. Lillian (YUP LILY FULL NAME) anyways! I really feel like for Adam this is more about finding that thing that makes him human, that keeps him human. Its about love for him which i totally respect and love. But he does step to the plate of be dangerously awesome, and dangerous. i loved reading from his POV it was captivating and interesting. so favorite Adam moments...possibly Lily as well? YES? YES!!!
“You’re wrong, because I know what it feels like to want someone. I remember how I felt for Maggie, and it doesn’t compare to how I feel for you. I wasn’t myself then. I was broken, and I know that the man that I was could have loved you then the way I love you now. I wasn’t ready to care about anyone, but you’re different. I know it’s not fair to Maggie, but that’s how things are.”
So quick thought, i thought at first my all time favorite scene of this book would be the naming scene, but it turned about to be that scene right up there ^^^ when that quote was said.
It makes me feel alive, like I’m human again. Again? If I was ever human, then why can’t I remember? I look down at my skin and see flesh, but I can tell that the bones underneath, the liquid running through the layers of “veins” are all synthetic. I am an automaton; I am Frankenstein’s monster, I am a thing to be feared. When I think of the doctor’s daughter again, all I wonder is, how fast will she run when she sees me coming?
Also i don't do these in order by the way, i just do them as i find them so yeah
This is a Lily Quote talking about her Grandmother, adore Lily by the way if i haven't said it before
The lights were still on, which meant my grandmother was awake, and probably skinning cats (or whatever it was that she did for fun at night).
Kay one last...possibly....Adam/ Lily passage that might be 2nd favorite:
“I’m a bird of prey, used by humans to hunt for sport. I’m the falcon with his eyes covered; only allowed to do as my owners tell me to do. I could strike fear in the hearts of any bird, but they all just pity me because I’m chained up to those who reared me.”
“Maybe, one day, someone will uncover your eyes and help you find your way back to the wild,” she offers. If she were here right now, I think I couldn’t stop myself from kissing her, because I know that she wants to be the one who sets me free. She’s the only person I know that understands what it means to need freewill, to need an escape. She doesn’t know it yet, but she’s already given me the keys to these locks.
“I think that person already has.”
Kay so that ending, wow that ending, yeah a lot of the action-y stuff happens almost after the half way mark but trust me the pacing in this book you won't even realize how much you have read in such a short period of time. Anyways wow. just dammit, wow. now these are super DUPER spoilers and really are meant only for those who read the book but i want to say something but not give anything away to those who haven't so PLEASE don't look
so if you want to know more about how i felt about the other series that Stephanie wrote, plus also i am super excited about this series...anyways you can check it out at my blog. i have this thing about indie authors, most of the time i love them, there have been times it just wasn't for me. but you can check out a whole bunch of them at my blog. but read this first then step by and look up more indie authors. link just for you! :) : http://theviolethourbookreviews.wordp...
A HUGE ASS THANK YOU to Stephanie Constante who sent this to me. And honesty is the best policy is what i have to say. So also I am pretty sure i am the first person to do a review on this? MAYBE? If i am SUPER EXCITING. and cool. Cause i tell it how it is. So let me tell you how it is.
Song choice. "I Gave You All" by Mumford and Sons, ANNNNNNNNNNNNNDDDD even how cheesy this is, i still love this song and i think its pppperrrfect for the most part. "I Will Follow You Into The Dark" by Death Cab for Cutie. (oh if you have no idea what i am talking about when i say song choice i am talking about songs that show a hint/vibe of the book, a certain aspect of it or whatever)
First gushings... i mean thoughts...right...thoughts: Um lets see where to start. Well i am going to be blunt for once (pauses for laughter because usually i am fairly blunt) READ THIS. I don't even care if you don't like Sci-fi, READ THIS. I don't care if you don't think you want to read this, you really do. Because it was just that good. Now i have read Stephanie's other series, and I ABSOLUTELY ADORED THEM as well, and she does not disappoint. Yeah this isn't high fantasy, and yeah there are no dragon shifters or any Aidan. BUT there is Adam (aka prototype 78), and there is just pure awesome-ness. The plot while yes government blah blah blah war machine doesn't feel trite, or over-used or any of that nonsense. Maybe its because i haven't read a scifi in awhile but this felt new to me, it felt exciting, and i couldn't stop myself from reading. Well actually i did a couple times only because people were like BECCA DOOO STUFF WITH ME. or you know my dog JoeJoe who i love to hate attacked me until i went to play with her. otherwise i wouldn't have left this book alone, because unless you know JoeJoe you don't get to judge me.
THOUGHTS ON PLOT: Well like i mentioned in the first thoughts up there, while this is about a cyborg, and scientist and government? (yes imagine me saying that slightly like a question). It doesn't feel like its been overused or the same as all those other scientifically enhanced books. Nope. This doesn't feel like something i read over and over again, or see over and over again. it feels new, and it feels refreshing. And it feels completely and utterly addictive and i demand that you go buy this...sorry getting carried away, but i mean i am sure you have read a book that makes you feel like you need to literally shoved it down other people's throats? I mean come on? you are lying if you are saying you didn't. Anyways, so not only is this story action packed, with some mystery on the side, you get some normal family drama, i mean who doesn't have a 20 something year old cyborg hanging out in their estranged father's basement lab? i know i do....or maybe that is wishful thinking...damn. Anyways yes there is some normal drama in there, and damn if i didn't want to kill our main gal Lils' grandmother. i will get to that in a moment in characters.
Anyways so i know you are wondering, well Becca is there any romance in this? Because you know what i love more on the side of awesome action, mystery and family drama? ROMANCE! well why, yes, yes there is. And there is the perfect, beautiful thing about Stephanie, and i am not that saying that because she sent this to me, because i did pay for her other books so i am glaring at you in a funny disapproving way for you to think of me that way. She writes about romances that are built. Sure its pretty obvious these two seem to have a bond when they first "hanging out" i put in quotation marks because i am not really sure what to call it other than "hanging out" anyways they are two obviously trapped, lonely teenagers. They crave that feeling of acceptance, and understanding, and hell i am 21 and i totally understand that feeling. But while Adam makes his feelings clear, its obvious that it isn't that insta love, and its not something that is dictating what is happening in this book.
There is more i want to say about their love and what nots but SPOILERS, ALSO i will talk about it with characters, which i am going to do NOW.
Characters:
**This is told in the POVs of both Lily, and Adam. Which was interesting and beautifully done, and amazing.**
Lily: Now here is an interesting character. While it seems like in shifting POVs that it would help the reader see the character from a different point of view, i think that sometimes that falls flat, and to be honest sometimes its hard to honestly believe in what your main character is telling you about themselves. This may sound strange but person first narrative can be misleading and the narrator is not always going to be believable. Now Lily is don't get me wrong. But i see things about her that i wouldn't have seen if it hadn't been for Adam's POV shifts. An example of this would be how Adam notices that while she keeps her poker face on, and her emotions internalized, while in Lily's head we know how she is feeling and i almost feel like she feels like she wears her emotions on her sleeve. Now I ADORED Lily. I thought she was sarcastic, and fantastic. *and i giggle* over that. At the beginning of the book it really shows us the type of person that Lily is, she is a compassionate person, who is very down to earth, and values human life. I think that those first few chapters with just Lily was omgosh awesome, why? because it really does paint her in a perfect light, not saying that she is perfect, but we can clearly see who she is, and how she would/might react to certain situations. Super important for this book, and as a general rule for all books. While I admit at first i thought Lily was going to be this meek, quiet girl who allowed her Grandmother WHO WAS A TOTALLY BITCH and this isn't one of those pretend spoilers this is a really big spoiler so don't look if you don't want to know Anyways she might just shock you, i know she shocked me for a moment, then i was like HELL YEAH GIRL YOU tell 'em how it is! loved.her.
Adam aka prototype 78: oh by the way he is the cyborg, really i am not giving anything away if you read the description you know this already. Now while he might be part robot, part human while he might be Dr. Jekyll, Mr. Hyde, Frankenstein's monster, not to be confused with the doctor himself, there is something so, damn swoon worthy about him. NOT TO MENTION if you are guy sorry about the swoon comment, but he also is fucking BAD-ASS. NOW if you are like, please what do you know? UM geek right here. Star Wars, the old ones are the best, LOTRs? if you don't know what it stands for well there is your answer, Dr. Who i mean please i about cried when i found of Matt is leaving, would you like me to go on about my knowledge of bad-assery? NO I DIDN'T THINK SO. Okay so he is dealing with some issues, you know being a human turned weapon with no real emotions besides when it comes to a certain girl who was named after Adam's (the biblical Adam) first's wife. Lillian (YUP LILY FULL NAME) anyways! I really feel like for Adam this is more about finding that thing that makes him human, that keeps him human. Its about love for him which i totally respect and love. But he does step to the plate of be dangerously awesome, and dangerous. i loved reading from his POV it was captivating and interesting. so favorite Adam moments...possibly Lily as well? YES? YES!!!
“You’re wrong, because I know what it feels like to want someone. I remember how I felt for Maggie, and it doesn’t compare to how I feel for you. I wasn’t myself then. I was broken, and I know that the man that I was could have loved you then the way I love you now. I wasn’t ready to care about anyone, but you’re different. I know it’s not fair to Maggie, but that’s how things are.”
So quick thought, i thought at first my all time favorite scene of this book would be the naming scene, but it turned about to be that scene right up there ^^^ when that quote was said.
It makes me feel alive, like I’m human again. Again? If I was ever human, then why can’t I remember? I look down at my skin and see flesh, but I can tell that the bones underneath, the liquid running through the layers of “veins” are all synthetic. I am an automaton; I am Frankenstein’s monster, I am a thing to be feared. When I think of the doctor’s daughter again, all I wonder is, how fast will she run when she sees me coming?
Also i don't do these in order by the way, i just do them as i find them so yeah
This is a Lily Quote talking about her Grandmother, adore Lily by the way if i haven't said it before
The lights were still on, which meant my grandmother was awake, and probably skinning cats (or whatever it was that she did for fun at night).
Kay one last...possibly....Adam/ Lily passage that might be 2nd favorite:
“I’m a bird of prey, used by humans to hunt for sport. I’m the falcon with his eyes covered; only allowed to do as my owners tell me to do. I could strike fear in the hearts of any bird, but they all just pity me because I’m chained up to those who reared me.”
“Maybe, one day, someone will uncover your eyes and help you find your way back to the wild,” she offers. If she were here right now, I think I couldn’t stop myself from kissing her, because I know that she wants to be the one who sets me free. She’s the only person I know that understands what it means to need freewill, to need an escape. She doesn’t know it yet, but she’s already given me the keys to these locks.
“I think that person already has.”
Kay so that ending, wow that ending, yeah a lot of the action-y stuff happens almost after the half way mark but trust me the pacing in this book you won't even realize how much you have read in such a short period of time. Anyways wow. just dammit, wow. now these are super DUPER spoilers and really are meant only for those who read the book but i want to say something but not give anything away to those who haven't so PLEASE don't look
so if you want to know more about how i felt about the other series that Stephanie wrote, plus also i am super excited about this series...anyways you can check it out at my blog. i have this thing about indie authors, most of the time i love them, there have been times it just wasn't for me. but you can check out a whole bunch of them at my blog. but read this first then step by and look up more indie authors. link just for you! :) : http://theviolethourbookreviews.wordp...
August 1, 2013
Full Blog Post @Book-Marks the Spot
Like most girls Lily can’t wait to turn 18, but she only wants to turn 18 so she doesn’t have to visit her dad in England. All she has to do is make it through the summer and she’ll be done with her dad and her ever demanding grandmother. Unfortunately trouble has a way of finding Lily. She thinks it will be fun to look at what her father is doing all day, she doesn’t expect to find prototype 78. Since the moment she spots him she knows she can’t let it go. Why is he down there? Why is her father experimenting on him?
Lily will learn all that and more, what she doesn’t expect she will have to choose between love and family.
The book starts out creepy but then mellows out when we meet Lily. It’s the typically teenage stuff, parties and all that. The good stuff arrives when she gets to London. I don’t know how she survived all those years with the way her grandmother treats her. I would just be broken. I can’t handle people being mean to me. (I’m soft hearted) You know by reading the summary of the book that is going to be emotional and you know that everything isn’t going to work out. But when does anything happen the way you want it to. Anyway like I said there was always a sense of doom in the air, like everything is about to hit the fan in any moment. It made me extremely nervous to continue. I didn’t want anything bad to happen to the characters. I had all these different scenarios in my head and not all of them were good. I like how Stephanie keeps you guessing till the end. That’s the best part about a book never knowing where is is going to lead. If you know what’s going to happen, where is the fun in that? Now let’s get to the Science that was in the book. It only mentions a few terms and thankfully I knew what they meant. (YAY) I was never overwhelmed with any information. The relationship with Lily and prototype 78 seemed a little rushed but at the same time I thought it was just right. I can’t say much without given stuff away so I’ll leave it at that. I’m sort I’m all over the place but back to the experiments. I can’t imagine all the experiment her dad has performed. I would never be able to look at him again. In his mind it is justified because he thinks he is doing the world a favor. UHHH NO!! Why would you get yourself mixed up with that? I just can’t wait to see what all happens in the next one because the ending was a bit abrupt. Not that is was bad, I just wanted MORE. I will definitely be getting the next one!!!!
The cover and title couldn’t be more perfect for this book. I love both of them. :D
Overall: This is kinda like a futuristic Romeo and Juliet, with Juliet being human and Romeo being not robot but not entirely human.
Lily is a shy and reclusive girl. She doesn’t like to be the center of attention but she doesn’t like to be alone. She realizes that her dad will never meet her expectations. She’s sad but she accepts it. She also knows her relationship with prototype 78 will never last yet she can’t help but hope. I think she keeps a leveled head (most of the time). She either goes big or goes home.
Prototype 78: Yes he gets a name in the book but I’m not going to spoil it. I don’t want to say a lot about him because I want you all to experience what I did, what he did. There were moments I was scared of him and the other times I loved him. He is so strong yet even he has he weaknesses.
4 STARS!!!!!!!!!!!
P.s Ashley and I are totally in the acknowledgments in the end. *fangirl moment* Want to see....well you have to read the book. *evil grin*
Like most girls Lily can’t wait to turn 18, but she only wants to turn 18 so she doesn’t have to visit her dad in England. All she has to do is make it through the summer and she’ll be done with her dad and her ever demanding grandmother. Unfortunately trouble has a way of finding Lily. She thinks it will be fun to look at what her father is doing all day, she doesn’t expect to find prototype 78. Since the moment she spots him she knows she can’t let it go. Why is he down there? Why is her father experimenting on him?
Lily will learn all that and more, what she doesn’t expect she will have to choose between love and family.
The book starts out creepy but then mellows out when we meet Lily. It’s the typically teenage stuff, parties and all that. The good stuff arrives when she gets to London. I don’t know how she survived all those years with the way her grandmother treats her. I would just be broken. I can’t handle people being mean to me. (I’m soft hearted) You know by reading the summary of the book that is going to be emotional and you know that everything isn’t going to work out. But when does anything happen the way you want it to. Anyway like I said there was always a sense of doom in the air, like everything is about to hit the fan in any moment. It made me extremely nervous to continue. I didn’t want anything bad to happen to the characters. I had all these different scenarios in my head and not all of them were good. I like how Stephanie keeps you guessing till the end. That’s the best part about a book never knowing where is is going to lead. If you know what’s going to happen, where is the fun in that? Now let’s get to the Science that was in the book. It only mentions a few terms and thankfully I knew what they meant. (YAY) I was never overwhelmed with any information. The relationship with Lily and prototype 78 seemed a little rushed but at the same time I thought it was just right. I can’t say much without given stuff away so I’ll leave it at that. I’m sort I’m all over the place but back to the experiments. I can’t imagine all the experiment her dad has performed. I would never be able to look at him again. In his mind it is justified because he thinks he is doing the world a favor. UHHH NO!! Why would you get yourself mixed up with that? I just can’t wait to see what all happens in the next one because the ending was a bit abrupt. Not that is was bad, I just wanted MORE. I will definitely be getting the next one!!!!
The cover and title couldn’t be more perfect for this book. I love both of them. :D
Overall: This is kinda like a futuristic Romeo and Juliet, with Juliet being human and Romeo being not robot but not entirely human.
Lily is a shy and reclusive girl. She doesn’t like to be the center of attention but she doesn’t like to be alone. She realizes that her dad will never meet her expectations. She’s sad but she accepts it. She also knows her relationship with prototype 78 will never last yet she can’t help but hope. I think she keeps a leveled head (most of the time). She either goes big or goes home.
Prototype 78: Yes he gets a name in the book but I’m not going to spoil it. I don’t want to say a lot about him because I want you all to experience what I did, what he did. There were moments I was scared of him and the other times I loved him. He is so strong yet even he has he weaknesses.
4 STARS!!!!!!!!!!!
P.s Ashley and I are totally in the acknowledgments in the end. *fangirl moment* Want to see....well you have to read the book. *evil grin*
August 16, 2013
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To simply put it, I adored Stephanie Constante’s Pygmalia. It had the right amount of suspense, mystery, and romance. From the moment I picked it up, I was thrust into a world of magic. Lily could care less about the fortune she is to acquire when she comes of age. All Lily cares about is being at her true home with her mother. She dreads spending the summer with her father in a run-down mansion in England. But this summer is different. It’s the last and certainly the most exciting one she’s ever had.
In her father’s basement, Lily finds Adam. A cyborg – per se. With time Lily and Adam form a bound that inevitably leads Lily to make a difficult decision that may jeopardize her family.
I just loved the forbidden romance in this. I mean, c’mon. Who has ever heard of a half-human/half-machine? I certainly have not! Nor, have I ever read of such a thing in existence. I think it’s one of the reasons that I really liked this novel. Why I was completely enthralled with it from the moment I started reading. – I also liked the fact that, even though, their love is doomed (because he was made to be a war machine and she is to go back to America) they both still persist and defy Lily’s father.
I liked Lily’s stubbornness and gall. She had every reason to fear Adam, yet, she knows that he is just as alone as she is and that there is more to him then what he was made for. Then there is Adam who is this machine made for war. He’s strong, but weak at the same time. His weakness is his love Lily – humanity. He goes through great lengths to protect her and to save her. I couldn’t help but like him. A lot. I’m a sucker, okay?
The pacing for the novel was great. There was never a dull moment. The beginning was actually very creepy and dark. Definite brownie points to Stephanie for that factor! I don’t scare easy, but I was a wee bit frightened there for a sec.
Overall, this was a really great book! The story line is original and captivating. I am really excited because this is the first in a series and I cannot wait to see what else Constante has in store for Lily and Adam! Definitely recommend this read for all YA lovers out there.
August 7, 2013
I was so wrapped up into this unique book that I read it in one sitting and I am still left wanting more.
Lily is heir to her family’s fortune but she wants none of it. She would rather stay in the USA then be forced to spend another summer in London with her recluse father and a verbally abusive grandmother. It’s not until she forces herself into her dad’s lab in the house that things start to change for her. She meets Adam; her father’s creation. He is part human part machine. Lily’s father is not at all happy with her interference in his work but she uses threats to get her way with him. But when Lily and Adam learn why he was created they try to figure out way to get him out of it. But with emotions getting stronger and people closing in on them can they get Adam out safely before he or Lily are terminated?
When I read the synopsis for this book I was instantly drawn in and the Stephanie didn’t disappoint me. Lily is so strong and she’s defiantly a character teen girls can look up to. I looked up to her and admired her strength and her ability to handle anything that was thrown at her. Adam is my new book crush. There is something about him that makes him so vulnerable but strong at the same time. His feelings for Lily are so strong even when he doubts if they are real due to being part machine. But he goes through get lengths to keep her safe and to let her know he loves her and will do anything for her. The chemistry between them is magical and leaves you almost feeling like you intruding on hem when they are spending time with one another. Another character I love is Virgil but I really can’t say why without giving any spoilers but just know he really steps up and helps Lily and Adam when it matters most.
I can not wait for the next book in this exciting new series filled with action, heart ache, lost, and love. 5/5 Bloody Fangs
Lily is heir to her family’s fortune but she wants none of it. She would rather stay in the USA then be forced to spend another summer in London with her recluse father and a verbally abusive grandmother. It’s not until she forces herself into her dad’s lab in the house that things start to change for her. She meets Adam; her father’s creation. He is part human part machine. Lily’s father is not at all happy with her interference in his work but she uses threats to get her way with him. But when Lily and Adam learn why he was created they try to figure out way to get him out of it. But with emotions getting stronger and people closing in on them can they get Adam out safely before he or Lily are terminated?
When I read the synopsis for this book I was instantly drawn in and the Stephanie didn’t disappoint me. Lily is so strong and she’s defiantly a character teen girls can look up to. I looked up to her and admired her strength and her ability to handle anything that was thrown at her. Adam is my new book crush. There is something about him that makes him so vulnerable but strong at the same time. His feelings for Lily are so strong even when he doubts if they are real due to being part machine. But he goes through get lengths to keep her safe and to let her know he loves her and will do anything for her. The chemistry between them is magical and leaves you almost feeling like you intruding on hem when they are spending time with one another. Another character I love is Virgil but I really can’t say why without giving any spoilers but just know he really steps up and helps Lily and Adam when it matters most.
I can not wait for the next book in this exciting new series filled with action, heart ache, lost, and love. 5/5 Bloody Fangs
June 2, 2013
I picked this book up on its release day thanks to a favorite Facebook club featuring it. The blurb was fascinating . . . I loved the idea of a girl falling for a monster (well, duh, look at my book list). So I grabbed it. And yes, I read fast.
Unfortunately, Pygmalia doesn't live up to the awesome cover and blurb. The concept is great. A girl is forced to spend her summer with her father in England, under the iron fist of her grandmother. Her father is a scientist who spends more time in the basement, working on his experiments, than with his rarely seen daughter.
The experiment is a young man turned cyborg/robot something. He has an unnatural interest in Lily and she falls pretty fast for him. They are doomed from the start . . . he is bound to be a war machine and she to return to America, yet they persist in threatening her father in order to be together. Awesome, right? I wanted so much to like the book.
So, the idea of the story wasn't what turned me off. What did was the fact that this book has no set tense and the surprising number of misspelled words (including "scrapping" instead of "scraping" on the first page). I dislike reading in present tense, but I can handle it if the writing is consistent. Pygmalia bounces from present to past tense, sometimes within the same paragraph and it is jarring. It prevented me from being able to really invest in the story.
In the end, it was the obvious lack of editing that spoiled the book for me.
Unfortunately, Pygmalia doesn't live up to the awesome cover and blurb. The concept is great. A girl is forced to spend her summer with her father in England, under the iron fist of her grandmother. Her father is a scientist who spends more time in the basement, working on his experiments, than with his rarely seen daughter.
The experiment is a young man turned cyborg/robot something. He has an unnatural interest in Lily and she falls pretty fast for him. They are doomed from the start . . . he is bound to be a war machine and she to return to America, yet they persist in threatening her father in order to be together. Awesome, right? I wanted so much to like the book.
So, the idea of the story wasn't what turned me off. What did was the fact that this book has no set tense and the surprising number of misspelled words (including "scrapping" instead of "scraping" on the first page). I dislike reading in present tense, but I can handle it if the writing is consistent. Pygmalia bounces from present to past tense, sometimes within the same paragraph and it is jarring. It prevented me from being able to really invest in the story.
In the end, it was the obvious lack of editing that spoiled the book for me.
August 8, 2013
From the moment I read the title, I was interested. There was something about this book that stood out, and I wanted to find out what it was.
Pygmalia is a book that is easily to get absorbed in and lose track of time. The storyline pulls you in, and it is hard to put it down. I found myself having to set alarms so I didn't forget to do things, like make dinner for my family.
Each of the characters in this story had a depth to them that made them feel real, including the minor characters. It is something I would definitely recommend to readers who enjoy action and romance.
I enjoyed this story immensely and I cannot wait to read more from Stephanie Constante!
I give Pygmalia 5/5 platypires.
Pygmalia is a book that is easily to get absorbed in and lose track of time. The storyline pulls you in, and it is hard to put it down. I found myself having to set alarms so I didn't forget to do things, like make dinner for my family.
Each of the characters in this story had a depth to them that made them feel real, including the minor characters. It is something I would definitely recommend to readers who enjoy action and romance.
I enjoyed this story immensely and I cannot wait to read more from Stephanie Constante!
I give Pygmalia 5/5 platypires.
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