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Energy Series #1
Tainted Energy
For seventeen-year-old Lena, living in the trailer park with the rest of town’s throwaways isn’t exactly paradise. Dealing with a drunken father who can't keep his fists to himself doesn’t help matters either. The only good thing in her life, other than track, is the mysterious man who visits her dreams, promising to find her.
When a chair burns her arms, Lena chalks it up to stress-induced crazy. Yet as bizarre incidents escalate, even being crazy can’t explain it all away… until one day dream guy does find her.
Tarek lost Lena seventeen years ago after she was accused of treason and marked Tainted. He finally discovers her reborn on Earth into a life of suffering as punishment for her crime. However, someone else has already found her… and wants her dead. Willing to sacrifice everything, he fights to keep her safe so she can live the only life she’s ever known—even if that life doesn’t include him.
When a chair burns her arms, Lena chalks it up to stress-induced crazy. Yet as bizarre incidents escalate, even being crazy can’t explain it all away… until one day dream guy does find her.
Tarek lost Lena seventeen years ago after she was accused of treason and marked Tainted. He finally discovers her reborn on Earth into a life of suffering as punishment for her crime. However, someone else has already found her… and wants her dead. Willing to sacrifice everything, he fights to keep her safe so she can live the only life she’s ever known—even if that life doesn’t include him.
306 pages, ebook
First published October 21, 2014
47 people are currently reading
966 people want to read
About the author
Lynn Vroman
10 books389 followersBorn in Pennsylvania, Lynn spent most of her childhood, especially during math class, daydreaming. Today, she spends an obscene amount of time in her head, only now she writes down all the cool stuff.
With a degree in English Literature, Lynn used college as an excuse to read for four years straight. She lives in the Pocono Mountains with her husband, raising the four most incredible human beings on the planet. She writes young adult novels.
With a degree in English Literature, Lynn used college as an excuse to read for four years straight. She lives in the Pocono Mountains with her husband, raising the four most incredible human beings on the planet. She writes young adult novels.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
November 15, 2014
Cover Thoughts-
What I love about the cover is the girl's facial expression. She appears so emotionally damaged but she remains strong. Her green eyes match perfectly with the text too. I love how she looks so natural but powerful in such a simple cover.
First Thought-
I've lived in an environment that Lena lives in before. Like her, all I wanted was to get out of there. So, before reading this I knew this is something I can empathize with. This is a read that can wrap me up and make me escape reality with it's beautiful imagery. Most of the time my first thought is usually wrong, but not this time.
Review-
Reading Tainted Energy was like riding the best roller coaster. My stomach did flips every time Lena was in trouble. I felt like I was there with her. Lena has no idea that her life at a trailer park, being abused by her dad is a punishment for her treachery in an entirely different dimension. This dimension being the most evolved and where Lena was once a guide.
The author describes everything with beautiful vivid detail. Even thought visiting Arcus is sure to bring death I wouldn't mind visiting it in my dreams. My favorite part about this novel was how romance was handled. It was not overdone or the entire focus of the novel like I feel most young adult fantasy novels are today. Of course there is the tragic love story of Lena and Tarek, but this time it isn't all about love. It is all about getting over fear and having strength.
This novel feels so exotic to me. The names of some of the characters are some that I have never heard before. Wilma, Tarek, Mateusz, etc... The different dimensions, each with their own exhilarating, exotic nature are so dreamlike. This is one of those books you truly feel like you are escaping reality with.
I really wish there was more information about Exemplar, the most evolved dimension. I also felt like I didn't know enough after how the Guides use energy or about the Synod at all. Some important details felt left out while other minor details had too much focus.
Overall Readability-
I encourage readers looking for something a bit different than your usual fantasy young adult novel with a strong female lead to try Tainted Energy. I stayed up all night stuck in suspense and the need to find out what will happen to Lena. Lena is what a lot of girls wish they could be in her situation. She is a regular YA Fantasy role model.
My Final Thought-
The ending left me feeling broken. I won't spoil it for you but I can't wait till 2015 when, Lost Energy, book 2 comes out.
5 out of 5 Haunted Roses
What I love about the cover is the girl's facial expression. She appears so emotionally damaged but she remains strong. Her green eyes match perfectly with the text too. I love how she looks so natural but powerful in such a simple cover.
First Thought-
I've lived in an environment that Lena lives in before. Like her, all I wanted was to get out of there. So, before reading this I knew this is something I can empathize with. This is a read that can wrap me up and make me escape reality with it's beautiful imagery. Most of the time my first thought is usually wrong, but not this time.
Review-
Reading Tainted Energy was like riding the best roller coaster. My stomach did flips every time Lena was in trouble. I felt like I was there with her. Lena has no idea that her life at a trailer park, being abused by her dad is a punishment for her treachery in an entirely different dimension. This dimension being the most evolved and where Lena was once a guide.
The author describes everything with beautiful vivid detail. Even thought visiting Arcus is sure to bring death I wouldn't mind visiting it in my dreams. My favorite part about this novel was how romance was handled. It was not overdone or the entire focus of the novel like I feel most young adult fantasy novels are today. Of course there is the tragic love story of Lena and Tarek, but this time it isn't all about love. It is all about getting over fear and having strength.
This novel feels so exotic to me. The names of some of the characters are some that I have never heard before. Wilma, Tarek, Mateusz, etc... The different dimensions, each with their own exhilarating, exotic nature are so dreamlike. This is one of those books you truly feel like you are escaping reality with.
I really wish there was more information about Exemplar, the most evolved dimension. I also felt like I didn't know enough after how the Guides use energy or about the Synod at all. Some important details felt left out while other minor details had too much focus.
Overall Readability-
I encourage readers looking for something a bit different than your usual fantasy young adult novel with a strong female lead to try Tainted Energy. I stayed up all night stuck in suspense and the need to find out what will happen to Lena. Lena is what a lot of girls wish they could be in her situation. She is a regular YA Fantasy role model.
My Final Thought-
The ending left me feeling broken. I won't spoil it for you but I can't wait till 2015 when, Lost Energy, book 2 comes out.
5 out of 5 Haunted Roses
November 10, 2014
I have to say..... where to start? I absolutely loved this book. I really truly loved reading this story of Lena. I fell in love with the characters especially Lena from page one. I was on edge through the book wondering what will happen, who is this person who is that one...What is their true intent. This story was written amazingly and in my opinion was full of emotion. I was mad when Lena was mad etc.... I felt her emotions as if they were my own. Then their is Zander I really liked him. I don't want to spoil anything, cause I just don't like to do that, but I liked him all the way through, though I got mad at him lol! I love books like this one that really keeps you hooked and emotional and that I can fall in love with. I didn't stop reading until I was at the end, then I wanted more. I plan to read more definitely when I can get the next book. There was another character that I liked a lot and that was Tarek. I mean I loved all the characters they are amazing. Tarek has so much compassion in him!!! Ok let me stop before I begin to cry again. Yes I cried during this book. I recommend this book to all! I give it a 5 Star rating. I will read again and again from this author. Very amazing writer and author! :)
December 6, 2014
I received this book from Xpresso Reads in return for a fair and honest review.
This is a wonderful story with a twist. It is refreshing, being romantic, suspenseful, heartbreaking and hopeful all at the same time.
Lena is being punished by a hard life on Earth - although she can't remember any of it. All she does know is that her Dream Man "Him" visits her in her dreams and promises to find her. Tarek has been searching for Lena for the past 17 years, ever since she was accused and sentenced as being 'tainted'. Finally, someone comes to him and tells him where she might be but also that she is in danger.
This is exceedingly well written with the descriptions of various places, people and acts being very clear. You will be with Lena every step of the way but also understand Tarek's struggles to comprehend that this Lena isn't his Lena even though she is.
The ending though... OMG!!! Not what I was expecting, absolutely tearjerking and yet I can't imagine it any other way now. Brilliant.
Definitely recommended for all fans of Fantasy/Paranormal that has its own take and spin on things. I really enjoyed it and can't wait for Book 2, Lost Energy.
This is a wonderful story with a twist. It is refreshing, being romantic, suspenseful, heartbreaking and hopeful all at the same time.
Lena is being punished by a hard life on Earth - although she can't remember any of it. All she does know is that her Dream Man "Him" visits her in her dreams and promises to find her. Tarek has been searching for Lena for the past 17 years, ever since she was accused and sentenced as being 'tainted'. Finally, someone comes to him and tells him where she might be but also that she is in danger.
This is exceedingly well written with the descriptions of various places, people and acts being very clear. You will be with Lena every step of the way but also understand Tarek's struggles to comprehend that this Lena isn't his Lena even though she is.
The ending though... OMG!!! Not what I was expecting, absolutely tearjerking and yet I can't imagine it any other way now. Brilliant.
Definitely recommended for all fans of Fantasy/Paranormal that has its own take and spin on things. I really enjoyed it and can't wait for Book 2, Lost Energy.
December 27, 2015
Tainted Energy was a wonderful read! I absolutely loved this incredibly imaginative story! It was so well written, and the story itself was well planned out, I just can't get enough of it! I loved all of the twists and turns that the book made, the were incredible!
The characters were fun to get to know. I loved learning about Lena, the main character, and her involvement with the two sides of the story. Her character development was really interesting and I enjoyed taking the journey with her. I also liked the other characters, like Zander.
Again, the book was just really well written. It was in Lena's point of view for the most part, and I loved hearing her reactions to the different events. She was very comical, as was some of the other characters.
Seriously, this was a great read! I can't wait to see what happens in the next book. This is the author, Lynn's first novel, and I can assure you she did an absolutely wonderful job. Congrats, Lynn! I have to give this book 5 out of 5 stars.
The characters were fun to get to know. I loved learning about Lena, the main character, and her involvement with the two sides of the story. Her character development was really interesting and I enjoyed taking the journey with her. I also liked the other characters, like Zander.
Again, the book was just really well written. It was in Lena's point of view for the most part, and I loved hearing her reactions to the different events. She was very comical, as was some of the other characters.
Seriously, this was a great read! I can't wait to see what happens in the next book. This is the author, Lynn's first novel, and I can assure you she did an absolutely wonderful job. Congrats, Lynn! I have to give this book 5 out of 5 stars.
October 24, 2014
Loved, loved, loved this book!!! So creative and unexpected! I literally could not put it down!! You will not read anything else like this and will be mesmerized the whole way through! Bravo, Lyn, bravo!! I can't wait for the next one!
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February 11, 2016Hey Everyone! You can now read the prequel novella to TAINTED ENERGY, THE PAIRING, for free on Wattpad! Don't miss out! https://www.wattpad.com/story/4755445...
November 18, 2014
Tainted Energy was an out of the world, mind blowing read!!!! I absolutely fell in love with everything about the book. The characters, plot, world-building and the concept were superb!!! FANTASTIC!!!! I was so emotionally invested in this book that I didn't want it to end. I even got teary eyes at the end!!!! The concept was so unique that I couldn't get enough of it. It was nice to be able to get my hands on something different. This story was beautifully written. I was able to vividly see what was going on in the story. I also felt so many feels with this book. I was really pulling for Tarek and Lena from the beginning. They have such a beautiful story and I couldn't help but fall in love with them. I was also able to connect with them on a deeper level due to reading from both points of view. I loved being inside both of their heads seeing how they truly felt.
The characters in this book have to be some of my favorites. Lena is a character anyone can relate to. She is nice and caring, but also a loner. She has suffered a lot during this cycle as punishment. She lives in a rundown trailer with an abusive father. People know she is being abused, but they all look the other way. She has one friend that seems to care a lot for her. Zander has been her friend for 3 months. He only sees her and when she is close to him, she only sees him. He didn't plan on falling for her so plans change because of that. Wilma, the lunch lady, has been watching over her longer than she has ever suspected. She has also grown to love Lena. Wilma will do anything and everything to protect Lena. She has become like a daughter to Wilma. Tarek is hot, sexy and just flat out gorgeous!!! I loved feeling how he felt for Lena. The love they have for each other was just beautiful. He has been so lost without her, but he never gave up searching. He never gave up on what they had. Even though Lena knew him from her dreams, she doesn't know what they had. She feels it though. And even though Lena isn't the same Lena as before, Tarek falls in love with everything new about the new Lena. At first though, it was a hard adjustment for him, but the connection was always there. Tarek loved her unconditionally, and he would do anything and I mean anything to protect her. Which he proved at the end.
Tainted Energy has become one of my favorite books. It wasn't predicable at all!!! I had no clue who was good or bad or what was going to happen at the end. That made it even more enjoyable. The surprises and twists left me shell-shocked and eager for more. I can't wait to see what happens in the next book. I am hoping that I don't have to wait too long for the sequel. This book kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. It was a real page turner. I honestly couldn't turn the pages fast enough. I want more!!!! Like I said, I did get teary eyed at the end. I loved how Lynn tied up the end, but also left it open. Gave me some hope!!! Their story isn't finished yet, and I can't wait to see what happens next!!! This is a book that I will definitely be rereading!!! It is a MUST read, and I highly recommend it!!!!
The characters in this book have to be some of my favorites. Lena is a character anyone can relate to. She is nice and caring, but also a loner. She has suffered a lot during this cycle as punishment. She lives in a rundown trailer with an abusive father. People know she is being abused, but they all look the other way. She has one friend that seems to care a lot for her. Zander has been her friend for 3 months. He only sees her and when she is close to him, she only sees him. He didn't plan on falling for her so plans change because of that. Wilma, the lunch lady, has been watching over her longer than she has ever suspected. She has also grown to love Lena. Wilma will do anything and everything to protect Lena. She has become like a daughter to Wilma. Tarek is hot, sexy and just flat out gorgeous!!! I loved feeling how he felt for Lena. The love they have for each other was just beautiful. He has been so lost without her, but he never gave up searching. He never gave up on what they had. Even though Lena knew him from her dreams, she doesn't know what they had. She feels it though. And even though Lena isn't the same Lena as before, Tarek falls in love with everything new about the new Lena. At first though, it was a hard adjustment for him, but the connection was always there. Tarek loved her unconditionally, and he would do anything and I mean anything to protect her. Which he proved at the end.
Tainted Energy has become one of my favorite books. It wasn't predicable at all!!! I had no clue who was good or bad or what was going to happen at the end. That made it even more enjoyable. The surprises and twists left me shell-shocked and eager for more. I can't wait to see what happens in the next book. I am hoping that I don't have to wait too long for the sequel. This book kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. It was a real page turner. I honestly couldn't turn the pages fast enough. I want more!!!! Like I said, I did get teary eyed at the end. I loved how Lynn tied up the end, but also left it open. Gave me some hope!!! Their story isn't finished yet, and I can't wait to see what happens next!!! This is a book that I will definitely be rereading!!! It is a MUST read, and I highly recommend it!!!!
November 9, 2014
I received a free copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
Tainted Energy is a unique young adult, sci-fi/fantasy novel where instead of dying, your energy is recycled and you're basically reincarnated. This is also taken a step further, as they visit the idea of soul mates, people who are automatically drawn to one another.
Lena has a a difficult childhood, living in a rusted trailer in a poor trailer park. Her father is an abusive alcoholic, beating on her and her mother, Jacie whenever he felt like. But Lena takes solace in Wilma, her school lunch lady. Wilma is always there giving a listening ear and a ride to school. Lena also has a plan, she turns eighteen soon and with the help of her boss Jake, she's procured an apartment for she and her mother. Add her sure thing scholarship to Penn State, she has a lot to look forward to. There's also the new boy at school that has quickly become her best friend, Zander.
Things are looking up until the chair in the theater tries to swallow her...Has she lost her mind? Lots of strange occurrences begin to unfold, and she continues to dream of a handsome gray eyed giant, she thinks will save her. When she finally meets him, it triggers a chain of events that will forever change her life.
This was a really neat story about love surviving the test of time. I thought it was amazing how Lena's character grew more courageous the angrier she became. I can't wait for the next book in the series, the end of this one left me feeling a bit sad, but there are still many loose ends and unanswered questions. All in all, this was a great book with never a dull moment!
Tainted Energy is a unique young adult, sci-fi/fantasy novel where instead of dying, your energy is recycled and you're basically reincarnated. This is also taken a step further, as they visit the idea of soul mates, people who are automatically drawn to one another.
Lena has a a difficult childhood, living in a rusted trailer in a poor trailer park. Her father is an abusive alcoholic, beating on her and her mother, Jacie whenever he felt like. But Lena takes solace in Wilma, her school lunch lady. Wilma is always there giving a listening ear and a ride to school. Lena also has a plan, she turns eighteen soon and with the help of her boss Jake, she's procured an apartment for she and her mother. Add her sure thing scholarship to Penn State, she has a lot to look forward to. There's also the new boy at school that has quickly become her best friend, Zander.
Things are looking up until the chair in the theater tries to swallow her...Has she lost her mind? Lots of strange occurrences begin to unfold, and she continues to dream of a handsome gray eyed giant, she thinks will save her. When she finally meets him, it triggers a chain of events that will forever change her life.
This was a really neat story about love surviving the test of time. I thought it was amazing how Lena's character grew more courageous the angrier she became. I can't wait for the next book in the series, the end of this one left me feeling a bit sad, but there are still many loose ends and unanswered questions. All in all, this was a great book with never a dull moment!
November 28, 2014
This book pulled me in from the first page. Lena is a 17 year old, eagerly awaiting the day she turns 18. Not for the normal teenage reasons but so she can escape the torture she has lived in her whole life. What she doesn't know is that the life she is living now is punishment for a life she lived before. Tarek has been searching for Lena for the past 17 years and finally found her, only so did someone else.
I have to start out by saying that the author did a great job with the characters. They were relateable and well written, not unrealistic and forced. Lena is freaked out by what has started happening to her, Tarek has to protect her. Her best friend, her boss, the lunch lady and others are her support and protection that she doesn't even realize. The love between Tarek and Lena is the same from their previous life together but so different. She knows him from her dreams but she now lives this human life, not their life together.
Solid 4/5. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to more from this author!
Thank you to the publisher/author for the review copy of this book (via Lady Amber's Tours). I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.
I have to start out by saying that the author did a great job with the characters. They were relateable and well written, not unrealistic and forced. Lena is freaked out by what has started happening to her, Tarek has to protect her. Her best friend, her boss, the lunch lady and others are her support and protection that she doesn't even realize. The love between Tarek and Lena is the same from their previous life together but so different. She knows him from her dreams but she now lives this human life, not their life together.
Solid 4/5. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to more from this author!
Thank you to the publisher/author for the review copy of this book (via Lady Amber's Tours). I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.
December 2, 2015
I want to say thank you for Xpresso Book tours for letting me read this book for review. And I know I'm late on getting this review up for reasons that I will let you all know in a different post. Any who this book was good. I love the concept of this book. I mean who doesn't love this kind story? Okay there is probably tons of people who would hate this story like there is for every book out there in the planet. This is worth the read it. I loved the lost love and the idea of the world and such. It blew me away. All the characters are good. None of them really got on my nerves. This kind of reminded me of something that happened in the Vampire Diaries to bad my brain is fried to think of it. I didn't really think this book would get to me as much as it did because of the cover. I know don't judge a book by its cover but we all do it. The cover doesn't drag you in as should. Now time for the bad part. This books kinda took me awhile to get into. It didn't drag me liked I would it would. I mean it wasn't to the point where I would drop it but it didn't like blow me away. I loved how this had a lot action though as well as the fact that even at the boring moments it kept interesting. There is nothing like this story out there. Not as I can think.
December 28, 2014
Oh boy, where do I begin? this book was amazing. I loved the story! I felt a real connection with Lena. I felt like I was in her world, or worlds, the whole time. I also enjoyed how Lynn wrote it from two points of view. we see Lena's world from her side of things, and we see Tarek's as an outsider. This gave the novel an extra hint that Lena was Tarek's life, like he gave up his first-person section(s) so the novel could be about her. That's real true love, I think.
The way Lynn writes is phenomenal. Gahh I can't wait for the next book in this series. Just loved it!
The way Lynn writes is phenomenal. Gahh I can't wait for the next book in this series. Just loved it!
November 24, 2014
**** 1/2 Stars!!
This is the first book I’ve read from this author, and wow this book blew me away. There was never a dull moment. Once I began on page one, I was not able to put the book down. I love the different twists and turns. It really had me on the edge of my seat. Lena is a wonderful character, she has to deal with her drunken dad. But she does have a great friend Zander. The storyline was unique and intriguing. I think what the author did in this book was amazing, and I will definitely be reading more from her. And I can’t wait to read the next book. Great Job!
This is the first book I’ve read from this author, and wow this book blew me away. There was never a dull moment. Once I began on page one, I was not able to put the book down. I love the different twists and turns. It really had me on the edge of my seat. Lena is a wonderful character, she has to deal with her drunken dad. But she does have a great friend Zander. The storyline was unique and intriguing. I think what the author did in this book was amazing, and I will definitely be reading more from her. And I can’t wait to read the next book. Great Job!
November 30, 2014
This is an interesting take on reincarnation and other dimensions. The characters are great; you are drawn into the current world of this tattered, lonely, and abused girl who is doing everything she can to change her future for the better. You are then clued into her past lives and the betrayal she has suffered and the love she shared. The story flows beautifully and I am excited to see more work from Lynn Vroman in the future!
November 15, 2014
This is a book with a very unusual and unique plot. Lena lives in poverty in a trailer park with her abusive, alcoholic father and abused mother. Tarek is her soul mate who has been looking for her. Lena was reincarnated into a life of suffering as her punishment for past crimes. I liked the uniqueness of the story. The writing was good. The pacing was good. The character development was good. Very intriguing plot. 4 stars.
November 11, 2014
This novel has some new spice and is a really good entry in the field of fantasy and Sci-Fi. The creativity of the author is really great. I love how she has made the concept of dimensions.
I would love to read the next book of the Energy series, which is planned to release next year.
I would love to read the next book of the Energy series, which is planned to release next year.
November 15, 2014
I HAVE TO SAY THIS BOOK SURPRISED ME. WELL WRITTEN VERY IMAGINATIVE. LOVED HOW THE STORY FLOWED AND THE CHARACTERS WERE DEVELOPED. ALL ROUND GREAT READ X
January 14, 2015
Check out my review as part of the Tainted Energy Blog Tour: http://21stcenturyonceuponatime.blogs...
July 5, 2015
This was a good book! I enjoyed the plot but couldn't relate to the characters but it was fun and quick and cool!
March 16, 2015
(Copy provided by Xpresso Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.)
Lena lives in a trailer park surrounded by a feeling of constant fear. Lately she's been dreaming of a mysterious man who promises to find her. When a chair in a movie theater burns her arms, she's sure she's going crazy. To top that, her drunken father who hasn't left his alcohol behind for years decides to go sober after hearing a voice from God. Tarek has been searching for Lena ever since she was accused of Treason and marked Tainted. He finally finds her on a dimension called Earth, but someone found her before him and is hunting her down. He's willing to protect her to the ends of the world even if it means sacrificing himself.
I've heard nothing but fantastic things about this book, it's literally all over Goodreads. So to say that I went into this book with pretty high hopes is an understatement. Personally, I didn't find this book to be as amazing as everyone else said it was. The plot line is definitely intriguing and the worlds/dimensions/energies that create this story is really cool. However, the world building fell a bit flat for me. While I did enjoy how everything worked, I felt detached from the world. It didn't feel engaging or really interest me very much. There are a lot of things I think that could have been better explained. What we do get about the history of Guides, Protectors, and Wardens feel rushed and unclear which doesn't help with the whole understanding of the book.
As far as characters go, I found myself really trying to connect with the characters, but always falling short. Lena is a strong person who has been through a lot, but throughout the book Tarek always tells us about how beautiful she is, how strong and loving she is, but everything he says falls a bit short. She's definitely determined and very caring towards her family, though I can't extend that to include her father. I guess I wanted more "action" from her part instead of her doing random acts of energy explosions when she's scared. Especially towards the end of the book where everything is falling apart, she doesn't really do much which really disappointed me.
Then we have Tarek. I'm a bit conflicted on how exactly I feel about him. He's very protective and loyal, but he's a Protector so that kind of comes with the job. In his relationship with Lena, he seemed to hold a lot of things back and made choices (like the last one) without conferring with her. It is obvious that he cares about her and I understand that losing someone you love once scares you, but telling her she's strong and letting her show it is kind of different. As a character overall, he's not bad, but similar to Lena, I wanted a tad bit more action.
Other characters include Wilma who I think is awesome. Through her, we get to see the most expression of energy/power that takes place in this book and I would not want to cross paths with her and get on her bad side because she would rip me apart. Then there's Zander who I want to punch for deceiving Lena, but whose motives I understand and don't blame him for his actions. There's also the big bad guy who is just really mentally unstable, but I did sympathize with him just a tiny bit. I mean, if you're all alone in this cold and gray dimension, of course you'd want some life and color.
Overall, this book wasn't bad. I feel like that point might not have been made clear. The story is definitely interesting and something that I will look into in the future. This is the first book in a series which is why I hoped for a bit more world development, but it's a nice beginning to a pretty interesting and intense world.
Read my reviews at:
http://extreemeobsessed.blogspot.com/
Lena lives in a trailer park surrounded by a feeling of constant fear. Lately she's been dreaming of a mysterious man who promises to find her. When a chair in a movie theater burns her arms, she's sure she's going crazy. To top that, her drunken father who hasn't left his alcohol behind for years decides to go sober after hearing a voice from God. Tarek has been searching for Lena ever since she was accused of Treason and marked Tainted. He finally finds her on a dimension called Earth, but someone found her before him and is hunting her down. He's willing to protect her to the ends of the world even if it means sacrificing himself.
I've heard nothing but fantastic things about this book, it's literally all over Goodreads. So to say that I went into this book with pretty high hopes is an understatement. Personally, I didn't find this book to be as amazing as everyone else said it was. The plot line is definitely intriguing and the worlds/dimensions/energies that create this story is really cool. However, the world building fell a bit flat for me. While I did enjoy how everything worked, I felt detached from the world. It didn't feel engaging or really interest me very much. There are a lot of things I think that could have been better explained. What we do get about the history of Guides, Protectors, and Wardens feel rushed and unclear which doesn't help with the whole understanding of the book.
As far as characters go, I found myself really trying to connect with the characters, but always falling short. Lena is a strong person who has been through a lot, but throughout the book Tarek always tells us about how beautiful she is, how strong and loving she is, but everything he says falls a bit short. She's definitely determined and very caring towards her family, though I can't extend that to include her father. I guess I wanted more "action" from her part instead of her doing random acts of energy explosions when she's scared. Especially towards the end of the book where everything is falling apart, she doesn't really do much which really disappointed me.
Then we have Tarek. I'm a bit conflicted on how exactly I feel about him. He's very protective and loyal, but he's a Protector so that kind of comes with the job. In his relationship with Lena, he seemed to hold a lot of things back and made choices (like the last one) without conferring with her. It is obvious that he cares about her and I understand that losing someone you love once scares you, but telling her she's strong and letting her show it is kind of different. As a character overall, he's not bad, but similar to Lena, I wanted a tad bit more action.
Other characters include Wilma who I think is awesome. Through her, we get to see the most expression of energy/power that takes place in this book and I would not want to cross paths with her and get on her bad side because she would rip me apart. Then there's Zander who I want to punch for deceiving Lena, but whose motives I understand and don't blame him for his actions. There's also the big bad guy who is just really mentally unstable, but I did sympathize with him just a tiny bit. I mean, if you're all alone in this cold and gray dimension, of course you'd want some life and color.
Overall, this book wasn't bad. I feel like that point might not have been made clear. The story is definitely interesting and something that I will look into in the future. This is the first book in a series which is why I hoped for a bit more world development, but it's a nice beginning to a pretty interesting and intense world.
Read my reviews at:
http://extreemeobsessed.blogspot.com/
March 18, 2016
5 Stars!
Very rarely do I ever give a book a solid five stars - but this one just took me in and I couldn’t help but love it. With very believable characters, fantastic world-building, and beautiful imagery Tainted Energy takes the reader for an amazing ride. A world as intricate and complex as this one usually results in a longer read, but as I read it, it felt more like I was watching a movie. I won’t say the pacing was quick, because the writer definitely took her time to guide the reader through this new world, but it didn’t feel like anything was drawn out or over-explained.
By far, my favorite part of the book is the protagonist, Lena. It’s very easy to immediately sympathize with her, given her home life and how hard she’s working to better her situation. Since her parts of the book are written in the first person, there’s an immediate connection to her. She reads like a very real teenager, despite the unreal circumstances in which she finds herself. My favorite part about her is that she’s flawed - she hates her situation, gets angry, has breakdowns - but she’s never melodramatic, and she grows from the events around her. Despite the supernatural and fantastical things that happen to her, she remains grounded - keeps her regular life as her priority, especially her relationship with her mother. It’d be easy for someone to throw their life away and get swept up in the workings of other dimensions, but she never even comes close to that, despite how awful her life is. In the end, she comes out a better person because of her ability to remain grounded - a testament to great character development. The rest of the characters are also amazing - the writer manages to create believable people, even with characters who don’t get much time dedicated to them. Each and every character has something to offer, and after Lena, it’s actually quite difficult to pick a favorite. Thanks to some point of view changes throughout the story, we also get insight into Tarek. I won’t go into his character too much here to avoid spoilers, but I really enjoyed when the perspective changed to him. If perspective change is something that throws you from a story, don’t let that stop you from giving this one a chance! The story is still 90% told from Lena’s POV.
The other main reason I’d suggest picking up the book is definitely the world-building. The writer weaves the intricacies of the world in a way that both keeps the reader guessing but doesn’t frustrate. While I read it, Lena’s confusion and questions mirrored my own, only deepening my connection with her as a protagonist. She uses simple, yet beautiful language to describe impossible landscapes. There were points throughout the story reminiscent of Alice in Wonderland - fantastically beautiful but just as dangerous. One world in particular really stood out to me - Arcus, a place where squids inhabit trees. Every minute spent there was accompanied with beautiful description of Lena’s surroundings. I never got tired of reading about it, despite my preference for brevity.
All in all, Tainted Energy was a fantastic read that definitely left me wanting more! Despite having crazy settings where squids live in trees, it’s impossible not to wonder if other dimensions like that exist after reading it. Lena and the other characters felt like old friends by the time I was done reading the book and read the teaser chapter for book two. I really look forward to seeing them again in the sequel!
PS. Received an ARC copy via Our Write Side.
Very rarely do I ever give a book a solid five stars - but this one just took me in and I couldn’t help but love it. With very believable characters, fantastic world-building, and beautiful imagery Tainted Energy takes the reader for an amazing ride. A world as intricate and complex as this one usually results in a longer read, but as I read it, it felt more like I was watching a movie. I won’t say the pacing was quick, because the writer definitely took her time to guide the reader through this new world, but it didn’t feel like anything was drawn out or over-explained.
By far, my favorite part of the book is the protagonist, Lena. It’s very easy to immediately sympathize with her, given her home life and how hard she’s working to better her situation. Since her parts of the book are written in the first person, there’s an immediate connection to her. She reads like a very real teenager, despite the unreal circumstances in which she finds herself. My favorite part about her is that she’s flawed - she hates her situation, gets angry, has breakdowns - but she’s never melodramatic, and she grows from the events around her. Despite the supernatural and fantastical things that happen to her, she remains grounded - keeps her regular life as her priority, especially her relationship with her mother. It’d be easy for someone to throw their life away and get swept up in the workings of other dimensions, but she never even comes close to that, despite how awful her life is. In the end, she comes out a better person because of her ability to remain grounded - a testament to great character development. The rest of the characters are also amazing - the writer manages to create believable people, even with characters who don’t get much time dedicated to them. Each and every character has something to offer, and after Lena, it’s actually quite difficult to pick a favorite. Thanks to some point of view changes throughout the story, we also get insight into Tarek. I won’t go into his character too much here to avoid spoilers, but I really enjoyed when the perspective changed to him. If perspective change is something that throws you from a story, don’t let that stop you from giving this one a chance! The story is still 90% told from Lena’s POV.
The other main reason I’d suggest picking up the book is definitely the world-building. The writer weaves the intricacies of the world in a way that both keeps the reader guessing but doesn’t frustrate. While I read it, Lena’s confusion and questions mirrored my own, only deepening my connection with her as a protagonist. She uses simple, yet beautiful language to describe impossible landscapes. There were points throughout the story reminiscent of Alice in Wonderland - fantastically beautiful but just as dangerous. One world in particular really stood out to me - Arcus, a place where squids inhabit trees. Every minute spent there was accompanied with beautiful description of Lena’s surroundings. I never got tired of reading about it, despite my preference for brevity.
All in all, Tainted Energy was a fantastic read that definitely left me wanting more! Despite having crazy settings where squids live in trees, it’s impossible not to wonder if other dimensions like that exist after reading it. Lena and the other characters felt like old friends by the time I was done reading the book and read the teaser chapter for book two. I really look forward to seeing them again in the sequel!
PS. Received an ARC copy via Our Write Side.
![Profile Image for Caro [The Book Rogue].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1348323821i%2F7330476._UX200_CR0%2C4%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
February 7, 2016
This story may not look it from the blurb and cover, but it had lots and lots of the real good stuff! For one, the plot development was very steady. You don't get thrown in all the paranormal right away, and that's a good thing, because what Vroman has made up is not that easy to understand. There were moments I was confused, just like Lena who was learning it all new. Thankfully, after that big first wave of info in the first two conversations that was totally confusing, more was revealed in nice packages to finally make sense of the whole picture. So by the end, I definitively got all the important parts for the read, and I'm eager to get into more detail and find out about even more places in the sequels. Plus, there was other stuff going on in between, so you don't get thrown otherworldly info at you in an overkill manner like with some YA paranormals out there.
Aside from the paranormal idea of the world build, which is definitively not for everyone but I enjoyed it enough, this was also a conpiracy/mystery read, and that part was plotted just as well. Maybe you can guess a little about one half of the ending, but that doesn't take the excitement out of the final action and drama, at least not once it actually gets rolling. And with that ending... totally worth it! I was gunning for something else entirely, so kudos for surprising me, making me scream in frustration, and wanting to grab the sequel right away to make it all right. Line, hook, and sinker for me! =)
Add to that all characters that fit right into the cracks. The villains didn't strike me, they just weren't set in scene too much, but that was totally fine with me! I grew really fond of all the other characters, though.
I liked that Lena's new self wasn't like her old one, although never to explicitly explained, and I generally liked her. She had focus and determination. She was initially a little shy, but as she learned of her old self and that she needed to beat the fear for good, she got even stronger and really embraced her new self. She had way bigger problems than boyfriend or nerd herd drama, so the small amounts of it were just right for the YA feeling.
I loved Wilma's smart and kickass, always a little frustrated way with her harsh mouth. She was begrudingly affectionate, a good soul and free spirit who'd risk it all for happiness of someone she held dear. She was awesome, and I really wouldn't want to be on her bad side. I hope there will be more background info on her in the sequels, though.
Tarek was both cutie and all steel warrior -- what's not to love? His hot-headed temper was a little childish, he could do better, but I dare say Lena brought out the best in him, and I think that's what he loved about her so much. They make a good match, the new Lena maybe even a better one than the old Lena, energies and all.
Zander might have the potential of being a second love interest again in the future, but I don't know. The other sidekicks (Farren, Jacie, Jake, even Belva) add up to a very nice package I'm very much looking forward to meet again and learn more about. I'm thinking some Farren x Belva and Jacie x Jake are in store. Pretty please?!
Area Scan: Idea: 5/5 -- Flow: 4/5 -- Vocab: 4/5 -- Plot: 5/5 -- Heroes: 5/5 -- Sidekicks: 5/5 -- Villains: 3/5 -- Romance: 4.5/5 -- Drama: 5/5 -- Action: 4.5/ -- Suspense: 3.5/5
Aside from the paranormal idea of the world build, which is definitively not for everyone but I enjoyed it enough, this was also a conpiracy/mystery read, and that part was plotted just as well. Maybe you can guess a little about one half of the ending, but that doesn't take the excitement out of the final action and drama, at least not once it actually gets rolling. And with that ending... totally worth it! I was gunning for something else entirely, so kudos for surprising me, making me scream in frustration, and wanting to grab the sequel right away to make it all right. Line, hook, and sinker for me! =)
Add to that all characters that fit right into the cracks. The villains didn't strike me, they just weren't set in scene too much, but that was totally fine with me! I grew really fond of all the other characters, though.
I liked that Lena's new self wasn't like her old one, although never to explicitly explained, and I generally liked her. She had focus and determination. She was initially a little shy, but as she learned of her old self and that she needed to beat the fear for good, she got even stronger and really embraced her new self. She had way bigger problems than boyfriend or nerd herd drama, so the small amounts of it were just right for the YA feeling.
I loved Wilma's smart and kickass, always a little frustrated way with her harsh mouth. She was begrudingly affectionate, a good soul and free spirit who'd risk it all for happiness of someone she held dear. She was awesome, and I really wouldn't want to be on her bad side. I hope there will be more background info on her in the sequels, though.
Tarek was both cutie and all steel warrior -- what's not to love? His hot-headed temper was a little childish, he could do better, but I dare say Lena brought out the best in him, and I think that's what he loved about her so much. They make a good match, the new Lena maybe even a better one than the old Lena, energies and all.
Zander might have the potential of being a second love interest again in the future, but I don't know. The other sidekicks (Farren, Jacie, Jake, even Belva) add up to a very nice package I'm very much looking forward to meet again and learn more about. I'm thinking some Farren x Belva and Jacie x Jake are in store. Pretty please?!
Area Scan: Idea: 5/5 -- Flow: 4/5 -- Vocab: 4/5 -- Plot: 5/5 -- Heroes: 5/5 -- Sidekicks: 5/5 -- Villains: 3/5 -- Romance: 4.5/5 -- Drama: 5/5 -- Action: 4.5/ -- Suspense: 3.5/5
February 15, 2015
TAINTED ENERGY BY LYNN VROMAN (free copy for ARC review)
Goodreads Summary 5 STARS!!!
For seventeen-year-old Lena, living in the trailer park with the rest of town's throwaways isn't exactly paradise. Dealing with a drunken father who can't keep his fists to himself doesn't help matters either. The only good thing in her life, other than track, is the mysterious man who visits her dreams, promising to find her. When a chair burns her arms, Lena chalks it up to stress-induced crazy. Yet as bizarre incidents escalate, even being crazy can't explain it all away... until one day dream guy does find her. Tarek lost Lena seventeen years ago after she was accused of treason and marked Tainted. He finally discovers her reborn on Earth into a life of suffering as punishment for her crime. However, someone else has already found her... and wants her dead. Willing to sacrifice everything, he fights to keep her safe so she can live the only life she's ever known-even if that life doesn't include him.
MY REVIEW
This book is totally different from anything i've ever read-it deals with energy and different dimensions which i found fascinating!
The author creates such vivid worlds like Arcus where pink squids climb trees and after you visit it, you have like color residue that sticks on you and enhances your features! Lena was a likable protagonist with flaws but she was just so strong. she lives a pretty rough life in a trailer with an abusive dad but the way she supported her mother and made plans to escape was just so inspiring. This book had a dose of teen drama in high school but it was not the main plot an din no way did it deviate from the actual story line.
So i won't spoil it but what Lena was once a guide in her past cycle-her past life, in another dimension and living with an abusive father is like a punishment for a mistake she made as a guide. Her energy was recycled into a new dimension, earth, and she lost memories of her past life. This is told in 2 POVs so when it switches from Tarek we learn that he has been looking for Lena for seventeen years after she'd been sent away. He does everything to find her and be with her after these long years.
I loved her relationship with Wilma who hides dangerous secrets but her love for Lena was unconditional. I felt like i was travelling with Lena on this journey. She was believable with justified reactions. She was always fighting with Tarek but it made me smile most of the time. And i found it so amazingly sweet how she refers to him as 'my giant'.
Each dimension has a warden-a kind of ruler and the warden of Arcus, Casimir, is trying to suck Lena into Arcus as bait for someone, But who? Treachery, deception, shocking revelations with missing parts of the story intricately woven by the author had me reading all day! I can't wait to see what happens next because that ending broke my heart!
Goodreads Summary 5 STARS!!!
For seventeen-year-old Lena, living in the trailer park with the rest of town's throwaways isn't exactly paradise. Dealing with a drunken father who can't keep his fists to himself doesn't help matters either. The only good thing in her life, other than track, is the mysterious man who visits her dreams, promising to find her. When a chair burns her arms, Lena chalks it up to stress-induced crazy. Yet as bizarre incidents escalate, even being crazy can't explain it all away... until one day dream guy does find her. Tarek lost Lena seventeen years ago after she was accused of treason and marked Tainted. He finally discovers her reborn on Earth into a life of suffering as punishment for her crime. However, someone else has already found her... and wants her dead. Willing to sacrifice everything, he fights to keep her safe so she can live the only life she's ever known-even if that life doesn't include him.
MY REVIEW
This book is totally different from anything i've ever read-it deals with energy and different dimensions which i found fascinating!
The author creates such vivid worlds like Arcus where pink squids climb trees and after you visit it, you have like color residue that sticks on you and enhances your features! Lena was a likable protagonist with flaws but she was just so strong. she lives a pretty rough life in a trailer with an abusive dad but the way she supported her mother and made plans to escape was just so inspiring. This book had a dose of teen drama in high school but it was not the main plot an din no way did it deviate from the actual story line.
So i won't spoil it but what Lena was once a guide in her past cycle-her past life, in another dimension and living with an abusive father is like a punishment for a mistake she made as a guide. Her energy was recycled into a new dimension, earth, and she lost memories of her past life. This is told in 2 POVs so when it switches from Tarek we learn that he has been looking for Lena for seventeen years after she'd been sent away. He does everything to find her and be with her after these long years.
I loved her relationship with Wilma who hides dangerous secrets but her love for Lena was unconditional. I felt like i was travelling with Lena on this journey. She was believable with justified reactions. She was always fighting with Tarek but it made me smile most of the time. And i found it so amazingly sweet how she refers to him as 'my giant'.
Each dimension has a warden-a kind of ruler and the warden of Arcus, Casimir, is trying to suck Lena into Arcus as bait for someone, But who? Treachery, deception, shocking revelations with missing parts of the story intricately woven by the author had me reading all day! I can't wait to see what happens next because that ending broke my heart!
January 23, 2015
Lena is a typical high school teenager and like most teenagers she’s looking forward to graduating and going off to college but unlike most teens she has the added weight of living in a trailer park with her mother and an alcoholic abusive father. Oh and she’s hearing voices, seeing a strange yet familiar man in her dreams, inanimate objects keep trying to suck her into a strange world called Arcus where bright pink giant squid hang from the trees and some stranger from that world is trying to kill her. Things aren’t that normal in Lena’s life and she’s not sure if all this is just in her head or if it’s real and if it is real why is this happening to her.
The truth is stranger than Lena could have ever imagined. This isn’t Lena’s first life cycle and Earth isn’t her original world. Lena is from Exemplar and she’s a Guide, her job is to guide energies into their next life cycles on different worlds. In her previous life cycle she got herself into a bit of trouble and she was punished for her misdeeds. As her punishment she had her memory wiped and she was recycled to Earth to live in an abusive home until it was time for her to move onto her next life cycle. With Wilma, the high school lunch lady who happens to be her Protector, her mom, her boss Jake, her best friend Zander and her past life love Tarek all by her side, Lena must fight back against dark forces while trying to unravel a deadly and sinister plot that could destroy the lines between worlds.
This book has some interesting plot twists and a very unique storyline. The writing is superb, the characters enchanting and the visuals are stunning. The idea of recycled energies, connected souls, and the existence of different worlds created a background that was captivating and bold. Lena’s growth and transition was fun to read. She’s a strong and empathetic character. Her interactions with Tarek had my heart beating fast. The love between those two was beautiful. The rebuilding of their connection was sincere and sweet. Wilma had me laughing with her assertive no nonsense attitude. I did wish there was more detail into how the worlds are set up and the levels of authority and power in Exemplar but hopefully the next books explain more in-depth the inner workings of the entire system.
I plan on reading the next book. I’m curious as to what will happen with Lena and Tarek’s future together. I want to know what is going on in Exemplar now that the sinister plot has been revealed and I want to find out if something is going on between Belva and Farren.
Copy provided for review.
Reviewed by Joy for Crystal's Many Reviewers
The truth is stranger than Lena could have ever imagined. This isn’t Lena’s first life cycle and Earth isn’t her original world. Lena is from Exemplar and she’s a Guide, her job is to guide energies into their next life cycles on different worlds. In her previous life cycle she got herself into a bit of trouble and she was punished for her misdeeds. As her punishment she had her memory wiped and she was recycled to Earth to live in an abusive home until it was time for her to move onto her next life cycle. With Wilma, the high school lunch lady who happens to be her Protector, her mom, her boss Jake, her best friend Zander and her past life love Tarek all by her side, Lena must fight back against dark forces while trying to unravel a deadly and sinister plot that could destroy the lines between worlds.
This book has some interesting plot twists and a very unique storyline. The writing is superb, the characters enchanting and the visuals are stunning. The idea of recycled energies, connected souls, and the existence of different worlds created a background that was captivating and bold. Lena’s growth and transition was fun to read. She’s a strong and empathetic character. Her interactions with Tarek had my heart beating fast. The love between those two was beautiful. The rebuilding of their connection was sincere and sweet. Wilma had me laughing with her assertive no nonsense attitude. I did wish there was more detail into how the worlds are set up and the levels of authority and power in Exemplar but hopefully the next books explain more in-depth the inner workings of the entire system.
I plan on reading the next book. I’m curious as to what will happen with Lena and Tarek’s future together. I want to know what is going on in Exemplar now that the sinister plot has been revealed and I want to find out if something is going on between Belva and Farren.
Copy provided for review.
Reviewed by Joy for Crystal's Many Reviewers
November 1, 2015
Title: Tainted Energy
Author: Lynn Vroman
Publication Date: April 2015
Genre: Young Adult/ Fanasty
My Rating: 3 Stars
I very graciously received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I'm going to divide this review into two parts:
1) What I really liked
2) What I found unappealing
The reason for this is because all in all, this book just wasn't my cup of tea and I don't want to turn off other readers who might really enjoy this book just because it wasn't for me. Let's begin.
First of all, is that cover just not amazing? I mean seriously, it's absolutely enthralling and makes you really want to just buy the book so you can display it on your bookshelf. Yes, I'm a cover whore. So sue me.
The actual idea for this story is very unique and not quite like anything I've ever come across before and that have the author huge points in my mind. I've been going through a dark fanasty phase so the more sinister aspects of this book completely drew me in and had me intrigued. Honestly, the very best part of this book was from the 65% mark until the 90% mark.
If definitely recommend this book to young adults who enjoy different worlds and fanasty stories with conspiracies.
Now, the main reason that this book just want for me was the way the author wrote it. For me, the execution of the storyline and the world building and even the characters relationships gave me whiplash trying to follow it. It was pretty confusing for me and honestly, downright annoying with how back and forth everything was.... Especially character interactions. It just wasn't something I found intriguing like some of these other reviewers but rather a bit like being the passenger in a student driver's car. Stop, go, stop, wait wait, go, stop. That pretty much sums it up.
My only other real issue was that I was pretty bored with the first half of the book. It doesn't just a little bit too much time on the 'young adult this is my angst filled life' and not on really explaining the different worlds and story building.
So all in all, I guess it boils down to a great idea with not enough push behind it's execution.
Author: Lynn Vroman
Publication Date: April 2015
Genre: Young Adult/ Fanasty
My Rating: 3 Stars
I very graciously received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I'm going to divide this review into two parts:
1) What I really liked
2) What I found unappealing
The reason for this is because all in all, this book just wasn't my cup of tea and I don't want to turn off other readers who might really enjoy this book just because it wasn't for me. Let's begin.
First of all, is that cover just not amazing? I mean seriously, it's absolutely enthralling and makes you really want to just buy the book so you can display it on your bookshelf. Yes, I'm a cover whore. So sue me.
The actual idea for this story is very unique and not quite like anything I've ever come across before and that have the author huge points in my mind. I've been going through a dark fanasty phase so the more sinister aspects of this book completely drew me in and had me intrigued. Honestly, the very best part of this book was from the 65% mark until the 90% mark.
If definitely recommend this book to young adults who enjoy different worlds and fanasty stories with conspiracies.
Now, the main reason that this book just want for me was the way the author wrote it. For me, the execution of the storyline and the world building and even the characters relationships gave me whiplash trying to follow it. It was pretty confusing for me and honestly, downright annoying with how back and forth everything was.... Especially character interactions. It just wasn't something I found intriguing like some of these other reviewers but rather a bit like being the passenger in a student driver's car. Stop, go, stop, wait wait, go, stop. That pretty much sums it up.
My only other real issue was that I was pretty bored with the first half of the book. It doesn't just a little bit too much time on the 'young adult this is my angst filled life' and not on really explaining the different worlds and story building.
So all in all, I guess it boils down to a great idea with not enough push behind it's execution.
April 3, 2016
Title: Tainted Energy
Author: Lynn Vroman
Publisher: Untold Press
ISBN: B00O0H7MTG
Buy Link: http://www.amazon.com/Tainted-Energy-...
Reviewer: Teresa Fallen Angel
Blurb:
The Energy Series 1
For seventeen-year-old Lena, living in the trailer park with the rest of town’s throwaways isn’t exactly paradise. Dealing with a drunken father who can’t keep his fists to himself doesn’t help matters either. The only good thing in her life, other than track, is the mysterious man who visits her dreams, promising to find her.
When a chair burns her arms, Lena chalks it up to stress-induced crazy. Yet as bizarre incidents escalate, even being crazy can’t explain it all away… until one day dream guy does find her.
Tarek lost Lena seventeen years ago after she was accused of treason and marked Tainted. He finally discovers her reborn on Earth into a life of suffering as punishment for her crime. However, someone else has already found her… and wants her dead. Willing to sacrifice everything, he fights to keep her safe so she can live the only life she’s ever known—even if that life doesn’t include him.
Summary:
Between dealing with her abusive, drunken father and the bullies at school, Lena's life has enough complications. The only things that keep her sane are her friend Zander, her love for running and the guy that meets her in her dreams. All together not unlike many young adults, but looks can be deceiving. Lena's dreams take a scary turn when her bed attacks her dragging her to a world that was both beautiful and terrifying. As her life begins to unravel, Lena must find the strength within herself to look beyond her world when Terek, her dream man, arrived as the world goes crazy. This story contained everything you could want, paranormal aspects, strange and unique creatures, other world cultures all blended into a love story that overcame time and space. The love and friendship between many of the characters endured hardships that would cripple many people. The trials that Lena and Terek are not over yet and I for one can't wait to see how it all ends.
Author: Lynn Vroman
Publisher: Untold Press
ISBN: B00O0H7MTG
Buy Link: http://www.amazon.com/Tainted-Energy-...
Reviewer: Teresa Fallen Angel
Blurb:
The Energy Series 1
For seventeen-year-old Lena, living in the trailer park with the rest of town’s throwaways isn’t exactly paradise. Dealing with a drunken father who can’t keep his fists to himself doesn’t help matters either. The only good thing in her life, other than track, is the mysterious man who visits her dreams, promising to find her.
When a chair burns her arms, Lena chalks it up to stress-induced crazy. Yet as bizarre incidents escalate, even being crazy can’t explain it all away… until one day dream guy does find her.
Tarek lost Lena seventeen years ago after she was accused of treason and marked Tainted. He finally discovers her reborn on Earth into a life of suffering as punishment for her crime. However, someone else has already found her… and wants her dead. Willing to sacrifice everything, he fights to keep her safe so she can live the only life she’s ever known—even if that life doesn’t include him.
Summary:
Between dealing with her abusive, drunken father and the bullies at school, Lena's life has enough complications. The only things that keep her sane are her friend Zander, her love for running and the guy that meets her in her dreams. All together not unlike many young adults, but looks can be deceiving. Lena's dreams take a scary turn when her bed attacks her dragging her to a world that was both beautiful and terrifying. As her life begins to unravel, Lena must find the strength within herself to look beyond her world when Terek, her dream man, arrived as the world goes crazy. This story contained everything you could want, paranormal aspects, strange and unique creatures, other world cultures all blended into a love story that overcame time and space. The love and friendship between many of the characters endured hardships that would cripple many people. The trials that Lena and Terek are not over yet and I for one can't wait to see how it all ends.
April 24, 2015
Tainted Energy is such a unique book and the storyline is original. Vroman's characters are well-developed, strong, and relatable to the young adult world she created. So much happens in this story! I'm not sure where to begin, so I'm gonna write this review different than others I've done.
The World:
Richelle Meads Gameboard of the Gods with a few elements from Suzanne Collin's The Hunger Games: Lena is trapped, scared to death of something she can't see but knows is there... lurking in the dark corners of her mind when she's vulnerable to the fear that grabs hold of her. She experiences things that shouldn't be possible, only they are. On one occasion, Lena is drug into a cartoon-like world filled with vibrant colors and exotic creatures, only to be pulled out and thrown back into her world. Lena has no idea what's going on and let's not forget about the voice she hears. Him. He's coming.
Basically, the world is one of a kind.
The Romance:
Obsidian by Jennifer Armentrout (I know, big shoes to fill) Lauren Kate's Fallen, Laini Taylor's Daughter of Smoke and Bone, Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver, and Claudia Gray's Afterlife (seriously, I could go on forever): Lena doesn't live a happy-go-lucky life. She's suffered more than a 17 year-old should, but she doesn't allow it to beat her down. She's a fighter... and so is Tarek.
Tarek has lived 17 years without the love of his existence and he won't stop searching until he finds her. Their relationship isn't like others I've read, so why the list of comparisons? Lena and Tarek... Lena and Tarek have/are... Crap! How can I explain? So, Lena and Tarek's relationship is frustrating but beautiful. True and honest, and I can't describe just how wonderful it is, sorry.
Summary:
I could go on with how I loved the plot twists or how crazy-awesome Vroman fits everything together in the end, but I wouldn't be able to hold back from giving more away than I already have. I loved this book from beginning to end and recommend to anyone who loves a great YA/SciFi/ Romance/ Fantasy/Mystery /Action.t
The World:
Richelle Meads Gameboard of the Gods with a few elements from Suzanne Collin's The Hunger Games: Lena is trapped, scared to death of something she can't see but knows is there... lurking in the dark corners of her mind when she's vulnerable to the fear that grabs hold of her. She experiences things that shouldn't be possible, only they are. On one occasion, Lena is drug into a cartoon-like world filled with vibrant colors and exotic creatures, only to be pulled out and thrown back into her world. Lena has no idea what's going on and let's not forget about the voice she hears. Him. He's coming.
Basically, the world is one of a kind.
The Romance:
Obsidian by Jennifer Armentrout (I know, big shoes to fill) Lauren Kate's Fallen, Laini Taylor's Daughter of Smoke and Bone, Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver, and Claudia Gray's Afterlife (seriously, I could go on forever): Lena doesn't live a happy-go-lucky life. She's suffered more than a 17 year-old should, but she doesn't allow it to beat her down. She's a fighter... and so is Tarek.
Tarek has lived 17 years without the love of his existence and he won't stop searching until he finds her. Their relationship isn't like others I've read, so why the list of comparisons? Lena and Tarek... Lena and Tarek have/are... Crap! How can I explain? So, Lena and Tarek's relationship is frustrating but beautiful. True and honest, and I can't describe just how wonderful it is, sorry.
Summary:
I could go on with how I loved the plot twists or how crazy-awesome Vroman fits everything together in the end, but I wouldn't be able to hold back from giving more away than I already have. I loved this book from beginning to end and recommend to anyone who loves a great YA/SciFi/ Romance/ Fantasy/Mystery /Action.t
January 15, 2015
“Tainted Energy” by Lynn Vroman Puts New Spin on Romantic Fantasy
Lena loves horror movies. There’s something about experiencing fear in a safe place that draws her to them. Maybe it’s because there’s so much fear in her real life, making her feel anything but safe, primarily because her father is an alcoholic who beats her and her mom. Then there’s the fact that the theatre seat tried to eat her and her bed tries to swallow her. Lena holds out hope that the mysterious man in her dreams will one day find her and save her as he promised.
The premise of Tainted Energy is super-clever–souls are recycled into another realm in a sort of karmic reincarnation. Energies from the superior plane of Exemplar are punished by being recycled onto Earth. Those reincarnated are not supposed to remember their past lives, but what if they did? This is the question posed in Tainted Energy.
Lena is a strong female character who, like many teen readers, may be trapped in an abusive relationship. Her one dream is to save herself and her mother. She realizes Tarek, the man in her dreams, may not be real and she refuses to wait for her knight in shining armour who may or may not appear. Kudos to her. Also, like many teen readers, Lena holds a lot of pent-up anger at her situation, and she doesn’t always handle it well. I wanted Lena to rise above her anger and show her father she’s better than him. I was disappointed when, instead, she uses fists instead of words to get even with him. I was glad to see that, while Vroman pens an intense sexual desire between Lena and Tarek, they do not act it out. When you’re a teen, everything is intense, but seeing as this Lena and Tarek have just met and Tarek is in his twenties and Lena is not yet 18, the characters do not give into temptation.
Tainted Energy was an enjoyable, quick read. Though romance and fantasy aren’t my favourite genres, I found myself looking forward to reading it. The story manages to put a fresh spin on reincarnated romance and multiple-worlds theory, and I really liked that.
Lena loves horror movies. There’s something about experiencing fear in a safe place that draws her to them. Maybe it’s because there’s so much fear in her real life, making her feel anything but safe, primarily because her father is an alcoholic who beats her and her mom. Then there’s the fact that the theatre seat tried to eat her and her bed tries to swallow her. Lena holds out hope that the mysterious man in her dreams will one day find her and save her as he promised.
The premise of Tainted Energy is super-clever–souls are recycled into another realm in a sort of karmic reincarnation. Energies from the superior plane of Exemplar are punished by being recycled onto Earth. Those reincarnated are not supposed to remember their past lives, but what if they did? This is the question posed in Tainted Energy.
Lena is a strong female character who, like many teen readers, may be trapped in an abusive relationship. Her one dream is to save herself and her mother. She realizes Tarek, the man in her dreams, may not be real and she refuses to wait for her knight in shining armour who may or may not appear. Kudos to her. Also, like many teen readers, Lena holds a lot of pent-up anger at her situation, and she doesn’t always handle it well. I wanted Lena to rise above her anger and show her father she’s better than him. I was disappointed when, instead, she uses fists instead of words to get even with him. I was glad to see that, while Vroman pens an intense sexual desire between Lena and Tarek, they do not act it out. When you’re a teen, everything is intense, but seeing as this Lena and Tarek have just met and Tarek is in his twenties and Lena is not yet 18, the characters do not give into temptation.
Tainted Energy was an enjoyable, quick read. Though romance and fantasy aren’t my favourite genres, I found myself looking forward to reading it. The story manages to put a fresh spin on reincarnated romance and multiple-worlds theory, and I really liked that.
November 27, 2014
This novel presents itself in the YA category, and it’s certainly has everything it needs to fit into that genre. With a teenage heroine with parent problems, a “this boy or that” romance, a trailer trash vs the cool kids split at school, an ever watchful lunch lady, what more could you ask in a YA novel? But Tainted Energy gives us so much more because Lena is no ordinary teenager. Sure she has an alcoholic, abusive father and a mother who’s spent too long being beaten and downtrodden to have much self-respect or survival instinct left, but Lena has aspirations. She’s wicked-fast on the track – good enough that her coach thinks she could win a scholarship in track at Penn State and a ticket to a better place than the trailer park she’s always known.
Yes, Lena has dreams of better things, including that white knight she’s dreamed about all her life; the one who will sweep in and save her from everything that’s bad in her life.
And then, one day, there he is – that man of her dreams. He’s not just similar to her dream man. This guy really is the man of her dreams, but the worlds and the forces he introduces her to are anything but dreamy. They’re hard, violent and malevolent, and they’re very interested in her, for all the wrong reasons.
Tainted Energy is about fantasy and alternate worlds. It’s about high technology and advanced civilizations, it’s about love, and loyalty and sacrifice, about power and how it gets corrupted. There’s plenty here to appeal to readers of every genre, not just the teen angst YA crowd. I loved the book and look forward to the rest of the series.
Yes, Lena has dreams of better things, including that white knight she’s dreamed about all her life; the one who will sweep in and save her from everything that’s bad in her life.
And then, one day, there he is – that man of her dreams. He’s not just similar to her dream man. This guy really is the man of her dreams, but the worlds and the forces he introduces her to are anything but dreamy. They’re hard, violent and malevolent, and they’re very interested in her, for all the wrong reasons.
Tainted Energy is about fantasy and alternate worlds. It’s about high technology and advanced civilizations, it’s about love, and loyalty and sacrifice, about power and how it gets corrupted. There’s plenty here to appeal to readers of every genre, not just the teen angst YA crowd. I loved the book and look forward to the rest of the series.
December 22, 2014
www.readingbifrost.com
Tainted Energy is a take on reincarnation where instead of deciding what creature you deserved to be, your life is dependent upon what dimension you deserve. Some worlds are greatly evolved, others are still in infancy; each with a Warden to watch over and protect its dimension.
Lena is seventeen and living on Earth as a punishment, fallen from grace that is Exemplar, the highest of dimensions, and forced to live out her cycle in an abusive home with no memory of who she really is.
Three other dimensions were mentioned in this book: Exemplar, Arcus, and Empyrean. Exemplar we don’t see very much of in this book, but Arcus and Empyrean are extraordinary worlds built by the author. Arcus is a very low level dimension filled with vibrant, almost cartoon quality colors and a mishmash of not-quite-right creatures. Empyrean is a medieval-ish quality dimension with cities that float in the air.
Lena’s character is strong, sharp, and a bit hardheaded. She does seem to what things her way most of the time, but not in a “spoiled” sort of way. Tarek is a big, cocky, teddybear who can be very protective and jealous. The romance between the two was mostly light, but does have a few fluff filled moments for long sighs and girly giggles.
The baddies were delightfully evil and fun to toss thoughts about. Casimir makes many valid points but goes about things wrong. I’ve already made several guesses about the villain/s for the next book!
Overall, Tainted Energy is a great start to a promising new series. I recommend it for anyone who likes to read paranormal romance that hints on the side of soulmates.
Tainted Energy is a take on reincarnation where instead of deciding what creature you deserved to be, your life is dependent upon what dimension you deserve. Some worlds are greatly evolved, others are still in infancy; each with a Warden to watch over and protect its dimension.
Lena is seventeen and living on Earth as a punishment, fallen from grace that is Exemplar, the highest of dimensions, and forced to live out her cycle in an abusive home with no memory of who she really is.
Three other dimensions were mentioned in this book: Exemplar, Arcus, and Empyrean. Exemplar we don’t see very much of in this book, but Arcus and Empyrean are extraordinary worlds built by the author. Arcus is a very low level dimension filled with vibrant, almost cartoon quality colors and a mishmash of not-quite-right creatures. Empyrean is a medieval-ish quality dimension with cities that float in the air.
Lena’s character is strong, sharp, and a bit hardheaded. She does seem to what things her way most of the time, but not in a “spoiled” sort of way. Tarek is a big, cocky, teddybear who can be very protective and jealous. The romance between the two was mostly light, but does have a few fluff filled moments for long sighs and girly giggles.
The baddies were delightfully evil and fun to toss thoughts about. Casimir makes many valid points but goes about things wrong. I’ve already made several guesses about the villain/s for the next book!
Overall, Tainted Energy is a great start to a promising new series. I recommend it for anyone who likes to read paranormal romance that hints on the side of soulmates.
July 15, 2015
I really enjoyed Tainted Energy, Vroman has created a fascinating new fantasy/sci fi world (we get a sketched outline of the abilities of some of the characters so I don't really know whether it's magic or technology, it seems to be a bit of both). I really liked the other world we visited as well, we didn't spend much time their but each world was vividly depicted.
I also felt as if I was right alongside the characters throughout, I was really drawn into the story.
I liked Lena, she's living in a terrible situation with her abusive father but she's trying to get out of it. I also thought the abusive relationship was done with a lot of sensitivity- it's not just the physical abusive that damages a person but the emotional abuse- the ups and downs, being scared of their good moods and their bad because you never know what that person will decide. Even if they aren't actually being abusive at that point in time that fear hangs over the victim through the whole relationship.
The idea of reincarnated souls is an interesting one, Lena has been reincarnated from a previous life and now that life is catching up with her.
I didn't really buy the romance and while it did help to start the plot I wasn't all that interested.
Also I knew I recognised the cover from somewhere- Grace Draven's The Lightning God's Wife uses the same image!
*Book provided free for review.*
I also felt as if I was right alongside the characters throughout, I was really drawn into the story.
I liked Lena, she's living in a terrible situation with her abusive father but she's trying to get out of it. I also thought the abusive relationship was done with a lot of sensitivity- it's not just the physical abusive that damages a person but the emotional abuse- the ups and downs, being scared of their good moods and their bad because you never know what that person will decide. Even if they aren't actually being abusive at that point in time that fear hangs over the victim through the whole relationship.
The idea of reincarnated souls is an interesting one, Lena has been reincarnated from a previous life and now that life is catching up with her.
I didn't really buy the romance and while it did help to start the plot I wasn't all that interested.
Also I knew I recognised the cover from somewhere- Grace Draven's The Lightning God's Wife uses the same image!
*Book provided free for review.*
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