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Unblemished #2
Unraveling
What happens when happily ever after starts to unravel?
Eliyana Ember doesn't believe in true love. Not anymore. After defeating her grandfather and saving the Second Reflection, El only trusts what's right in front of her. The tangible. The real. Not some unexplained Kiss of Infinity she once shared with the ghost of a boy she's trying to forget. She has more important things to worry about--like becoming queen of the Second Reflection, a role she is so not prepared to fill.
Now that the Verity is intertwined with her soul and Joshua's finally by her side, El is ready to learn more about her mysterious birth land, the land she now rules. So why does she feel like something--or someone--is missing?
When the thresholds begin to drain and the Callings, those powerful magical gifts, begin to fail, El wonders if her link to Ky Rhyen may have something to do with it. For light and darkness cannot coexist. She needs answers before the Callings disappear altogether. Can El find a way to sever her connection to Ky and save the Reflections--and keep herself from falling for him in the process?
Eliyana Ember doesn't believe in true love. Not anymore. After defeating her grandfather and saving the Second Reflection, El only trusts what's right in front of her. The tangible. The real. Not some unexplained Kiss of Infinity she once shared with the ghost of a boy she's trying to forget. She has more important things to worry about--like becoming queen of the Second Reflection, a role she is so not prepared to fill.
Now that the Verity is intertwined with her soul and Joshua's finally by her side, El is ready to learn more about her mysterious birth land, the land she now rules. So why does she feel like something--or someone--is missing?
When the thresholds begin to drain and the Callings, those powerful magical gifts, begin to fail, El wonders if her link to Ky Rhyen may have something to do with it. For light and darkness cannot coexist. She needs answers before the Callings disappear altogether. Can El find a way to sever her connection to Ky and save the Reflections--and keep herself from falling for him in the process?
356 pages, Hardcover
Published July 11, 2017
33 people are currently reading
1801 people want to read
About the author
Sara Ella
8 books1,350 followersOnce upon a time, Sara Ella brought dreams to life as a Disney cast member, wishing for the day she’d find her prince and live in a castle of her own. Now she spends her days homeschooling her three Jedi in training, braving the Arizona summers, and reminding her superhero husband that it's almost Christmas (even if it's only January). Sara is the award-winning author of The Wonderland Trials, Coral, and the Unblemished trilogy. She is old enough for fairy tales and believes happily ever after is never far away.
Connect with her online at SaraElla.com or find her on Instagram at @saraellawrites.
Connect with her online at SaraElla.com or find her on Instagram at @saraellawrites.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 209 reviews
October 7, 2017
Even 5 stars seems like a low score to give this magnificent book. Loved every word. Your bookshelf won't know what hit it.
July 22, 2017
I was sent a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
See my review of the first book, Unblemished, here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I enjoyed this sequel more than the first book because the story felt more streamlined, or maybe it's just that I'm past the growing pains and was now familiar with the world and characters so it was easier to get into. I really loved where the story went! We're seeing more of the world(s), learning more about the characters. We've moved away from New York and castle politics, and I'm much more into the adventure quest that was going on here! There are pirates, and clues to follow. I loved how enemies and allies switched, and there was more solidarity among the female characters. I loved the origin story Sara Ella wrote for this world, and I loved how she explored the duality of human nature when characters struggle with the good and evil within themselves.
I'm still having a little trouble with some of the style of this series. There are so many Disney song lyrics casually added into whatever El says or thinks and it kept making it difficult for me to see this story as its own thing instead of just thinking about Disney movies. El also makes a ton of references to songs, bands, or musicals that I'm not familiar with, so I don't enjoy how frequently those occur. And although I was glad to see more diversity in this second book, I think some stereotypes were too heavily relied on when it came to portraying the POC characters (such as food descriptors for skintones, and being killed off easily).
Overall, I can tell that Sara Ella's writing is growing and I did not feel the confusion with this book that I had with the first. The ending of Unraveling was so exciting, it set up something big for book 3 and I CANNOT WAIT!!
See my review of the first book, Unblemished, here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I enjoyed this sequel more than the first book because the story felt more streamlined, or maybe it's just that I'm past the growing pains and was now familiar with the world and characters so it was easier to get into. I really loved where the story went! We're seeing more of the world(s), learning more about the characters. We've moved away from New York and castle politics, and I'm much more into the adventure quest that was going on here! There are pirates, and clues to follow. I loved how enemies and allies switched, and there was more solidarity among the female characters. I loved the origin story Sara Ella wrote for this world, and I loved how she explored the duality of human nature when characters struggle with the good and evil within themselves.
I'm still having a little trouble with some of the style of this series. There are so many Disney song lyrics casually added into whatever El says or thinks and it kept making it difficult for me to see this story as its own thing instead of just thinking about Disney movies. El also makes a ton of references to songs, bands, or musicals that I'm not familiar with, so I don't enjoy how frequently those occur. And although I was glad to see more diversity in this second book, I think some stereotypes were too heavily relied on when it came to portraying the POC characters (such as food descriptors for skintones, and being killed off easily).
Overall, I can tell that Sara Ella's writing is growing and I did not feel the confusion with this book that I had with the first. The ending of Unraveling was so exciting, it set up something big for book 3 and I CANNOT WAIT!!
July 12, 2017
About this book:
“What happens when happily ever after starts to unravel?
Eliyana Ember doesn't believe in true love. Not anymore. After defeating her grandfather and saving the Second Reflection, El only trusts what's right in front of her. The tangible. The real. Not some unexplained Kiss of Infinity she once shared with the ghost of a boy she's trying to forget. She has more important things to worry about--like becoming queen of the Second Reflection, a role she is so not prepared to fill.
Now that the Verity is intertwined with her soul and Joshua's finally by her side, El is ready to learn more about her mysterious birth land, the land she now rules. So why does she feel like something--or someone--is missing?
When the thresholds begin to drain and the Callings, those powerful magical gifts, begin to fail, El wonders if her link to Ky Rhyen may have something to do with it. For light and darkness cannot coexist. She needs answers before the Callings disappear altogether. Can El find a way to sever her connection to Ky and save the Reflections--and keep herself from falling for him in the process?”
Series: Book #2 in the “Unblemished” trilogy. Review of Book #1 Here!
Spiritual Content- This is a Good (Light, “the Verity”) vs Evil (Darkness, “the Void”) storyline and El is trying to destroy the Void; A mention of a miracle; A mention of Queen Vashti from the book of Esther;
*Note: Eliyana says she hasn’t given much thought to life after death because it always seemed impossible; A man says he can raise someone back from the dead if he wanted; One of the male leads has a lot of the [Darkness] in him and acts completely different from his normal self and cruel; Mentions of sorcery; Mentions of the First Reflection where someone-who-has-died’s soul can survive without their physical vessel [their body]; Many mentions of people having the [Darkness] in them & it affecting them; A few mentions of those who worship the [Darkness]; A mention of Hercules; A mention of Medusa; “Thank the Verity”, “Holy Verity”, “for Verity’s sake”, “scared the living Void right out of me”, “oh my Void”, “Crowe!”, “a crowe of a lot easier”, “where the crowe”, “for the love of crowe”, “get the crowe out of here”, “oh my chronicles”, and “Son of a Soulless” are said in place of other phrases many times.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘bleep’, a ‘darn’, a ‘flippin’’, a ‘fudge everything up’, a ‘gah’, a ‘oh my word’, a ‘rats’, a ‘witch’, two ‘drat’s, two ‘dumb’s, two ‘what the bleep’s, three ‘blasted’s, three ‘drat’s, three ‘moron’s, three ‘sheesh’s, three forms of ‘shut up’, four ‘duh’s, four forms of ‘idiot’, four forms of ‘screw’, four forms ‘suck’, four ‘wretched’s, eight ‘crud’s, and eight ‘stupid’s; Second Reflection curses are said & written (words in place of what would be normally used); Mentions of curses (said, not written); Eye rolling, Sarcasm, & Sass; Lies & Lying; Lots of Pain, being shot, shooting someone, cutting someone, threatening, falling, nearly passing out, nearly drowning, poisons, explosions, earthquakes, blood/bleeding, dead bodies (semi-detailed); One of the male leads murders someone (it’s the Void that convinced him to do it, up to semi-detailed); Fighting, a child is run through with a sword, hitting/beating someone up, injuries/wounds, blood/bleeding, the scent of blood, & dead bodies (semi-detailed); Many, many mentions of fighting, pain, injuries/wounds, blood/bleeding, coughing up blood, the scent of blood, cutting one’s self (not in a suicidal sense, though), dead bodies, screams/sobs, explosions, earthquakes, attacks, seeing people shot, bullets, arrows, guns/swords/knifes/weapons & weapons aimed/threatened (semi-detailed); Mentions of murders, deaths, & murderers (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of attacks, attackers, & injuring someone bad (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of pain from torture, poisons/drugs, scars, bruises, burns, beatings, & blood/bleeding (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of kidnappings; Mentions of traitors, betrayals, & deceit; Mentions of stealing an item; Mentions of dungeons; Mentions of alcohol, champagne, drinking, drunks, & bar fights; Mentions of throwing up & vomit (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of lies, lying, & liars; Mentions of gossip & rumors; Mentions of nightmares; Mentions of bullies & their mean words; Mentions of tattoos; A few mentions of seeing a monster/woman/troll eating a small fairy whole; A few mentions of an attempted kidnapping and abduction; A few mentions of wanting to punch someone in their face; A few mentions of betting; A few mentions of acne; A couple mentions of almost becoming someone’s slave; A couple mentions of jealousy; A couple mentions of tobacco; A couple mentions of manure; A couple mentions of chamber pots; A mention of the smell of urine; A mention of peeing in a pair of pants; A mention of BO; A mention of poker;
*Notes: Mentions of brands (Converse and Coach); Mentions of movies, TV shows, fiction characters, actors/directors, (Elsa, Tangled, Pocahontas, Peter Pan, Tinker Bell, Annie (& Miss Hannigan), Pirates of the Caribbean (& Elizabeth Swan), The Titanic, The Princess Bride, Freaky Friday, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, BBC’s Sherlock, Wonder Woman, Ali, Million Dollar Baby, Princess Leia, Edmond Dantes, Count of Monte Cristo, Humphrey Bogart, and Ingmar Bergman); Mentions of singers and their songs (Taylor Swift, Christina Perri, Alicia Keys, Dolly Parton, Shania Twain, Mumford & Sons, Switchfoot, Passenger, and Zedd); Mentions of Broadway shows & characters (Wicked, Elphaba, Phantom of the Opera, Into the Woods, and Rent); A few mentions of vampires, Twilight, & Edward Cullen; A couple mentions of Starbucks; A mention of Barbie; A mention of the game The Legend of Zelda; A mention of walking like a zombie; A mention of an 80s slasher flick.
Sexual Content- a fingers-to-lips touch, nine hand/finger kisses, two forehead kisses, a barely-above-not-detailed kiss, a semi-detailed kiss, and a detailed kiss that alludes to them going father (but not actually said); Wanting to kiss/be kissed; Remembering kisses (barely-above-not-detailed); Many talks about kissing & kisses; One of the male leads looks at Eliyana with a hunger in his eyes; He also mentions craving her & that he won’t be keep his distance anymore; Lots of Touches, Embraces, Warmth, Heat, Hand Holding, Flutters, Nearness, & Smelling (semi-detailed); Flirting, Bushes, & Winks; Noticing & noticing a shirtless guy’s chest (up to semi-detailed); Many mentions of kisses, kissing, enjoying being kissed, wanting to kiss/be kissed, & staring at lips; Mentions of PDA; Mentions of touches & nearness; Mentions of dating, girlfriends, boyfriends, & being in love with someone; Mentions of flirting, winks, & blushes; Mentions of crushes & falling in love; A few mentions of a married woman sitting on her husband’s lap & them kissing (barely-above-not-detailed); A few mentions of a girl being in-like with a guy; Love, being/falling in love & the emotions;
*Note: Mentions of a mother who died right after childbirth; A few mentions of men’s naked chests; A couple mentions of a woman’s tight shirt & her more-than-adequate bosom bouncing; A mention of a woman (okay, she’s called a Troll)’s dress revealing a lot of her skin; A mention of a bra strap; A mention of freezing a behind off; A mention of someone acting like they have a stick-up-her-rear.
-Eliyana “El” Ember, age 18
1st person P.O.V. of Eliyana, Joshua/Josh (18x), Ky (6x)
356 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star
Early High School Teens- One Star
Older High School Teens- One Star
My personal Rating- One Star
While this book has been on my anticipated books list for 2017, I wouldn’t say I’ve been highly waiting for this sequel like others have been. I just plain was curious.
Unfortunately, I ended up disappointed.
As I said in the Spoiler section of my final thoughts of the first book: “I frankly don't care much who El ends up with.” I’d like to confirm that opinion right now. I honestly don’t like Joshua or Ky. They both seem creepy to me and I’d like to tell El to “run for the hills, girl!” One of them became obsessive about her. Eliyana’s dependence on having whichever guy she liked in that chapter was honestly sad to me. That she needed a guy to feel complete and better about herself. But, then again, there’s no mentions of God for her to find her worth in His love for her.
Compared to the first book, this novel has four maps in the beginning. Slightly neat, but also overwhelming. I jumped into reading this one. I didn’t reread the first book—which I probably should have, but I dislike rereading books I didn’t really enjoy—because I wanted to see how well it would remind the reader of the important events that happened in the first book. There were many parts I didn’t understand, some that slowly came back to me…mainly how everyone is related and to whom they’re related to. More birth secrets are added in this one and it honesty didn’t shock me at all.
Reading other reviews, I can understand why some find this writing style annoying, though. The sound effects are a bit much. There’s no real separation when we’re reading a flashback, so it can be confusing. A few flashbacks have a decent intro into the memory, but most felt choppy.
Some bothersome parts to me were all the fake cussing. When El “curses” in Second Reflection-ese, you can easy put an actual curse in its place and its basically means the same. It doesn’t actually cover the fact that they’re cursing.
Like I said in my review of the first book: this is not an allegory. I’ve tried to think and stretch my brain to how it could be one. But, with every new information on the Verity and Void I came across that thought as a no. The Verity (the light, or the good, in this fight) is said to be the most powerful entity in the Seven Reflections, but also that it can die. So, no, it’s not supposed to be God. There’s also The Fairy Queen who is said to be immortal and older than the Verity itself.
I admit the seeing hashtags in like a conversation threw me for a loop. Do teens still do that? Talking to a follow teen or yourself and then tacking on “#nojoke” is their conversation? That kind of gives the book an expiration date of contemporariness.
The most disappointing part of this 356-paged book, though, was the detailed kiss that alludes into them going father and being on top of the other. Olivia over at Olivia Rose in Bloom summed up the sexual mentions perfectly by saying “There is so much sexual tension in this book it could light up New York City.” That’s pretty true, unfortunately so.
Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
*I received this book for free from the Publisher (Thomas Nelson) for this honest review.
“What happens when happily ever after starts to unravel?
Eliyana Ember doesn't believe in true love. Not anymore. After defeating her grandfather and saving the Second Reflection, El only trusts what's right in front of her. The tangible. The real. Not some unexplained Kiss of Infinity she once shared with the ghost of a boy she's trying to forget. She has more important things to worry about--like becoming queen of the Second Reflection, a role she is so not prepared to fill.
Now that the Verity is intertwined with her soul and Joshua's finally by her side, El is ready to learn more about her mysterious birth land, the land she now rules. So why does she feel like something--or someone--is missing?
When the thresholds begin to drain and the Callings, those powerful magical gifts, begin to fail, El wonders if her link to Ky Rhyen may have something to do with it. For light and darkness cannot coexist. She needs answers before the Callings disappear altogether. Can El find a way to sever her connection to Ky and save the Reflections--and keep herself from falling for him in the process?”
Series: Book #2 in the “Unblemished” trilogy. Review of Book #1 Here!
Spiritual Content- This is a Good (Light, “the Verity”) vs Evil (Darkness, “the Void”) storyline and El is trying to destroy the Void; A mention of a miracle; A mention of Queen Vashti from the book of Esther;
*Note: Eliyana says she hasn’t given much thought to life after death because it always seemed impossible; A man says he can raise someone back from the dead if he wanted; One of the male leads has a lot of the [Darkness] in him and acts completely different from his normal self and cruel; Mentions of sorcery; Mentions of the First Reflection where someone-who-has-died’s soul can survive without their physical vessel [their body]; Many mentions of people having the [Darkness] in them & it affecting them; A few mentions of those who worship the [Darkness]; A mention of Hercules; A mention of Medusa; “Thank the Verity”, “Holy Verity”, “for Verity’s sake”, “scared the living Void right out of me”, “oh my Void”, “Crowe!”, “a crowe of a lot easier”, “where the crowe”, “for the love of crowe”, “get the crowe out of here”, “oh my chronicles”, and “Son of a Soulless” are said in place of other phrases many times.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘bleep’, a ‘darn’, a ‘flippin’’, a ‘fudge everything up’, a ‘gah’, a ‘oh my word’, a ‘rats’, a ‘witch’, two ‘drat’s, two ‘dumb’s, two ‘what the bleep’s, three ‘blasted’s, three ‘drat’s, three ‘moron’s, three ‘sheesh’s, three forms of ‘shut up’, four ‘duh’s, four forms of ‘idiot’, four forms of ‘screw’, four forms ‘suck’, four ‘wretched’s, eight ‘crud’s, and eight ‘stupid’s; Second Reflection curses are said & written (words in place of what would be normally used); Mentions of curses (said, not written); Eye rolling, Sarcasm, & Sass; Lies & Lying; Lots of Pain, being shot, shooting someone, cutting someone, threatening, falling, nearly passing out, nearly drowning, poisons, explosions, earthquakes, blood/bleeding, dead bodies (semi-detailed); One of the male leads murders someone (it’s the Void that convinced him to do it, up to semi-detailed); Fighting, a child is run through with a sword, hitting/beating someone up, injuries/wounds, blood/bleeding, the scent of blood, & dead bodies (semi-detailed); Many, many mentions of fighting, pain, injuries/wounds, blood/bleeding, coughing up blood, the scent of blood, cutting one’s self (not in a suicidal sense, though), dead bodies, screams/sobs, explosions, earthquakes, attacks, seeing people shot, bullets, arrows, guns/swords/knifes/weapons & weapons aimed/threatened (semi-detailed); Mentions of murders, deaths, & murderers (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of attacks, attackers, & injuring someone bad (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of pain from torture, poisons/drugs, scars, bruises, burns, beatings, & blood/bleeding (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of kidnappings; Mentions of traitors, betrayals, & deceit; Mentions of stealing an item; Mentions of dungeons; Mentions of alcohol, champagne, drinking, drunks, & bar fights; Mentions of throwing up & vomit (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of lies, lying, & liars; Mentions of gossip & rumors; Mentions of nightmares; Mentions of bullies & their mean words; Mentions of tattoos; A few mentions of seeing a monster/woman/troll eating a small fairy whole; A few mentions of an attempted kidnapping and abduction; A few mentions of wanting to punch someone in their face; A few mentions of betting; A few mentions of acne; A couple mentions of almost becoming someone’s slave; A couple mentions of jealousy; A couple mentions of tobacco; A couple mentions of manure; A couple mentions of chamber pots; A mention of the smell of urine; A mention of peeing in a pair of pants; A mention of BO; A mention of poker;
*Notes: Mentions of brands (Converse and Coach); Mentions of movies, TV shows, fiction characters, actors/directors, (Elsa, Tangled, Pocahontas, Peter Pan, Tinker Bell, Annie (& Miss Hannigan), Pirates of the Caribbean (& Elizabeth Swan), The Titanic, The Princess Bride, Freaky Friday, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, BBC’s Sherlock, Wonder Woman, Ali, Million Dollar Baby, Princess Leia, Edmond Dantes, Count of Monte Cristo, Humphrey Bogart, and Ingmar Bergman); Mentions of singers and their songs (Taylor Swift, Christina Perri, Alicia Keys, Dolly Parton, Shania Twain, Mumford & Sons, Switchfoot, Passenger, and Zedd); Mentions of Broadway shows & characters (Wicked, Elphaba, Phantom of the Opera, Into the Woods, and Rent); A few mentions of vampires, Twilight, & Edward Cullen; A couple mentions of Starbucks; A mention of Barbie; A mention of the game The Legend of Zelda; A mention of walking like a zombie; A mention of an 80s slasher flick.
Sexual Content- a fingers-to-lips touch, nine hand/finger kisses, two forehead kisses, a barely-above-not-detailed kiss, a semi-detailed kiss, and a detailed kiss that alludes to them going father (but not actually said); Wanting to kiss/be kissed; Remembering kisses (barely-above-not-detailed); Many talks about kissing & kisses; One of the male leads looks at Eliyana with a hunger in his eyes; He also mentions craving her & that he won’t be keep his distance anymore; Lots of Touches, Embraces, Warmth, Heat, Hand Holding, Flutters, Nearness, & Smelling (semi-detailed); Flirting, Bushes, & Winks; Noticing & noticing a shirtless guy’s chest (up to semi-detailed); Many mentions of kisses, kissing, enjoying being kissed, wanting to kiss/be kissed, & staring at lips; Mentions of PDA; Mentions of touches & nearness; Mentions of dating, girlfriends, boyfriends, & being in love with someone; Mentions of flirting, winks, & blushes; Mentions of crushes & falling in love; A few mentions of a married woman sitting on her husband’s lap & them kissing (barely-above-not-detailed); A few mentions of a girl being in-like with a guy; Love, being/falling in love & the emotions;
*Note: Mentions of a mother who died right after childbirth; A few mentions of men’s naked chests; A couple mentions of a woman’s tight shirt & her more-than-adequate bosom bouncing; A mention of a woman (okay, she’s called a Troll)’s dress revealing a lot of her skin; A mention of a bra strap; A mention of freezing a behind off; A mention of someone acting like they have a stick-up-her-rear.
-Eliyana “El” Ember, age 18
1st person P.O.V. of Eliyana, Joshua/Josh (18x), Ky (6x)
356 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star
Early High School Teens- One Star
Older High School Teens- One Star
My personal Rating- One Star
While this book has been on my anticipated books list for 2017, I wouldn’t say I’ve been highly waiting for this sequel like others have been. I just plain was curious.
Unfortunately, I ended up disappointed.
As I said in the Spoiler section of my final thoughts of the first book: “I frankly don't care much who El ends up with.” I’d like to confirm that opinion right now. I honestly don’t like Joshua or Ky. They both seem creepy to me and I’d like to tell El to “run for the hills, girl!” One of them became obsessive about her. Eliyana’s dependence on having whichever guy she liked in that chapter was honestly sad to me. That she needed a guy to feel complete and better about herself. But, then again, there’s no mentions of God for her to find her worth in His love for her.
Compared to the first book, this novel has four maps in the beginning. Slightly neat, but also overwhelming. I jumped into reading this one. I didn’t reread the first book—which I probably should have, but I dislike rereading books I didn’t really enjoy—because I wanted to see how well it would remind the reader of the important events that happened in the first book. There were many parts I didn’t understand, some that slowly came back to me…mainly how everyone is related and to whom they’re related to. More birth secrets are added in this one and it honesty didn’t shock me at all.
Reading other reviews, I can understand why some find this writing style annoying, though. The sound effects are a bit much. There’s no real separation when we’re reading a flashback, so it can be confusing. A few flashbacks have a decent intro into the memory, but most felt choppy.
Some bothersome parts to me were all the fake cussing. When El “curses” in Second Reflection-ese, you can easy put an actual curse in its place and its basically means the same. It doesn’t actually cover the fact that they’re cursing.
Like I said in my review of the first book: this is not an allegory. I’ve tried to think and stretch my brain to how it could be one. But, with every new information on the Verity and Void I came across that thought as a no. The Verity (the light, or the good, in this fight) is said to be the most powerful entity in the Seven Reflections, but also that it can die. So, no, it’s not supposed to be God. There’s also The Fairy Queen who is said to be immortal and older than the Verity itself.
I admit the seeing hashtags in like a conversation threw me for a loop. Do teens still do that? Talking to a follow teen or yourself and then tacking on “#nojoke” is their conversation? That kind of gives the book an expiration date of contemporariness.
The most disappointing part of this 356-paged book, though, was the detailed kiss that alludes into them going father and being on top of the other. Olivia over at Olivia Rose in Bloom summed up the sexual mentions perfectly by saying “There is so much sexual tension in this book it could light up New York City.” That’s pretty true, unfortunately so.
Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
*I received this book for free from the Publisher (Thomas Nelson) for this honest review.
May 1, 2019
Good golly, why are these books so good?!? This one was even better than the first one. I also need the third book like now because with everything that just happened I need closure!
Joshua became the jerkest, jerk I have EVER read about. (Pun not intended ;D) I don't care what some may say, he truly does not love El because if he did he would be selfless and let me say that he the THE most selfish guy ever!!! Ughhhh, he frustrates me to no end.
Ky on the other hand was still a sweetheart and I love him so much. I loved seeing his character development though out this book. He is just an amazing guy that I am praying ends up with El.
I really enjoyed seeing El grow throughout the book and I am definitely relating with her character more and more.
I honestly have no idea how they wouldn't end up together though because Joshua has just become and pysco maniac.
The storyline in this book was much easier to follow and I just enjoyed it a whole lot more. There was more action in it and just a better plot that keep me wanting to get to the end.
I really enjoyed this book and I cannot wait to see what book 3 has in store next!!
Joshua became the jerkest, jerk I have EVER read about. (Pun not intended ;D) I don't care what some may say, he truly does not love El because if he did he would be selfless and let me say that he the THE most selfish guy ever!!! Ughhhh, he frustrates me to no end.
Ky on the other hand was still a sweetheart and I love him so much. I loved seeing his character development though out this book. He is just an amazing guy that I am praying ends up with El.
I really enjoyed seeing El grow throughout the book and I am definitely relating with her character more and more.
I honestly have no idea how they wouldn't end up together though because Joshua has just become and pysco maniac.
The storyline in this book was much easier to follow and I just enjoyed it a whole lot more. There was more action in it and just a better plot that keep me wanting to get to the end.
I really enjoyed this book and I cannot wait to see what book 3 has in store next!!
March 30, 2022
WHOAH.
The twistyness of the last part of the book pretty nearly broke my neck.
I absolutely LOVE being in El’s POV. I love her character and movie/music references. It felt so good to pick back up with this story, and it kept me gripped all the way through. It seriously pains me that I don’t own the final book of this beautiful trilogy yet. But I will have to get my hands on it sometime soon, because no part of me is going to forget about these characters and this story.
(OKAY BUT THE ENDING I NEEEED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS!!!)
The twistyness of the last part of the book pretty nearly broke my neck.
I absolutely LOVE being in El’s POV. I love her character and movie/music references. It felt so good to pick back up with this story, and it kept me gripped all the way through. It seriously pains me that I don’t own the final book of this beautiful trilogy yet. But I will have to get my hands on it sometime soon, because no part of me is going to forget about these characters and this story.
(OKAY BUT THE ENDING I NEEEED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS!!!)
July 12, 2017
I was so excited to read this sequel to Unblemished . Unraveling was one of my most-anticipated reads of 2017. I loved the elegant writing and unique premise. Unraveling was a strong sequel, something that is very hard to find.
There were so many plot twists! I was never sure what to expect and some of the twists blew me away. I never wanted to put the book down. Sara Ella's writing is, as with the first book, exceptional. The characters have distinct voices and El definitely stands out as a main character. Ky and Joshua occasionally get chapters as well, which provided insight into their motivations and backstories as well.
From a plot and writing stand point, this book was absolutely a five-star read. It's rare to find a sequel that can stand next to its predecessor. Unraveling far exceeded my expectations in that area.
Oh, yes, and I do have a favorite guy of the love triangle. I was rooting for him and El over the entire book. :)
However, I did almost give it three stars due to some content concerns. There's references to affairs, like in the first book. Some of the kissing scenes get a little...intense. One scene in particular felt purposely vague--I'm not totally certain if the characters went "too far" or not. I don't think so, but it was left a bit open to interpretation. I was disappointed in how this aspect of the romance was portrayed.
There were some great themes of good versus evil, what love is, self-worth, etc. This series isn't a direct Christian allegory, though. The Void and Verity can't exactly be considered Biblical symbols. They are clearly supposed to represent "evil" and "good", but sometimes it felt more like the dark side and the light side of the Force in Star Wars than Biblical symbols. This isn't a specific negative, but just a note that these books aren't clearly Christian. As I said, though, there are some fantastic themes.
Overall, Unraveling is a great sequel that, story-wise, I think is stronger than the first book. I was disappointed by some of the content, but can't wait to read the third and final book. The world Sara Ella has created is amazingly portrayed, and I'm eager to visit it one final time.
There were so many plot twists! I was never sure what to expect and some of the twists blew me away. I never wanted to put the book down. Sara Ella's writing is, as with the first book, exceptional. The characters have distinct voices and El definitely stands out as a main character. Ky and Joshua occasionally get chapters as well, which provided insight into their motivations and backstories as well.
From a plot and writing stand point, this book was absolutely a five-star read. It's rare to find a sequel that can stand next to its predecessor. Unraveling far exceeded my expectations in that area.
Oh, yes, and I do have a favorite guy of the love triangle. I was rooting for him and El over the entire book. :)
However, I did almost give it three stars due to some content concerns. There's references to affairs, like in the first book. Some of the kissing scenes get a little...intense. One scene in particular felt purposely vague--I'm not totally certain if the characters went "too far" or not. I don't think so, but it was left a bit open to interpretation. I was disappointed in how this aspect of the romance was portrayed.
There were some great themes of good versus evil, what love is, self-worth, etc. This series isn't a direct Christian allegory, though. The Void and Verity can't exactly be considered Biblical symbols. They are clearly supposed to represent "evil" and "good", but sometimes it felt more like the dark side and the light side of the Force in Star Wars than Biblical symbols. This isn't a specific negative, but just a note that these books aren't clearly Christian. As I said, though, there are some fantastic themes.
Overall, Unraveling is a great sequel that, story-wise, I think is stronger than the first book. I was disappointed by some of the content, but can't wait to read the third and final book. The world Sara Ella has created is amazingly portrayed, and I'm eager to visit it one final time.
Read
July 17, 2017Unraveling Discussion Questions!
(SPOILER ALERT! Don't read until you've read ALL of Unraveling)
1. Eliyana has come a long way in her journey to self-acceptance, but she still has some things to work on. Compare and contrast her view of herself physically in Unblemished versus her view of her internal worth in Unraveling.
2. Discuss Joshua's descent into darkness. Do you feel his actions inUnraveling are warranted? Why or why not?
3. We see some blossoming sibling relationships throughout Unraveling. Compare Eliyana and Ebony's relationship to Ky and Joshua's. Who is more accepting and forgiving of the other? Would you be able to forgive Ebony after what she did inUnblemished? Do you think Joshua would still despise Ky if Eliyana wasn't involved?
4. If you could use the Unbinding Elixir to make yourself forget one memory, what would it be and why?
5. One of the main goals in Unraveling is to end the Void. Do you believe the answer lies simply in destruction, or could healing be involved somehow? Explain your answer.
6. Kuna's death impacted different characters in different ways. Share a time you lost someone and how you coped with that loss. Did it help to be around others or by yourself? Did you feel more angry or sad, or a little bit of both?
7. Isabeau has dealt with quite a bit of rejection over the years. Do you feel any pity for her at all? Do you believe she can be redeemed after all she has done? Explain.
8. Eliyana remembers Ky when they touch at the end of Unraveling. Do you believe their soul bond is truly broken? What do you anticipate will happen between them in Unbreakable (Book III).
(SPOILER ALERT! Don't read until you've read ALL of Unraveling)
1. Eliyana has come a long way in her journey to self-acceptance, but she still has some things to work on. Compare and contrast her view of herself physically in Unblemished versus her view of her internal worth in Unraveling.
2. Discuss Joshua's descent into darkness. Do you feel his actions inUnraveling are warranted? Why or why not?
3. We see some blossoming sibling relationships throughout Unraveling. Compare Eliyana and Ebony's relationship to Ky and Joshua's. Who is more accepting and forgiving of the other? Would you be able to forgive Ebony after what she did inUnblemished? Do you think Joshua would still despise Ky if Eliyana wasn't involved?
4. If you could use the Unbinding Elixir to make yourself forget one memory, what would it be and why?
5. One of the main goals in Unraveling is to end the Void. Do you believe the answer lies simply in destruction, or could healing be involved somehow? Explain your answer.
6. Kuna's death impacted different characters in different ways. Share a time you lost someone and how you coped with that loss. Did it help to be around others or by yourself? Did you feel more angry or sad, or a little bit of both?
7. Isabeau has dealt with quite a bit of rejection over the years. Do you feel any pity for her at all? Do you believe she can be redeemed after all she has done? Explain.
8. Eliyana remembers Ky when they touch at the end of Unraveling. Do you believe their soul bond is truly broken? What do you anticipate will happen between them in Unbreakable (Book III).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 13, 2017
Oh my heart! *sobs*
Sara Ella certainly knows how to write a complex and captivating fairy tale-esque story! Unraveling was truly a perfect sequel to Unblemished, and I think I enjoyed it even more!
Realm-travel. Fantasy. Good vs. evil. Romance. Family and friends. Battles and secrets. Such a delightful fairy tale feel! I used to watch "Once Upon a Time" (though I discontinued it for various personal reasons), and Unraveling felt a lot like that tv show, in all the good ways! *smiles* It just has an irresistibly intriguing quality to it.
It was nice to be back with Eliyana Ember and all the other wonderful people who surround her. Ky is my absolute favorite! ^_^
Unraveling was definitely adventurous. The light vs. darkness theme was explored more, and I actually felt it brought across a pretty thoughtful message. There's no clear allegorical theme, which is sometimes hard for me ... But I think Sara Ella did a good job of just making this a crazy, complex, lovely fairy tale with some good lessons to take away from it.
It was fun and interesting to uncover secrets and figure out more of what's going on in this magical Second Reflection. Danger. Drama. Heartache. Sweetness.
There was a scene that I found quite unnecessary. It was brief and not explicit, but I certainly didn't approve! :p I'm kind of discouraged that that particular scene had to be added to an otherwise good book. Probably knocked a star off the rating for me, personally. We'll see how the third book does in this department ...
I once again found the fantasy realm intriguing ... the neat fantasy creatures and cool gifts. I loved the bit of a pirate theme that we got! *grins* Also, all the fairies and queens and legends! *heart eyes* Fairy tale, my friends! If you love fairy tales, the UNBLEMISHED series is probably for you.
THAT ENDING. My heart. Like, tear it out, why don't you?? I was so furious at a certain guy and just upset that such a thing had to happen.
But I suppose it made for a totally heartbreaking, breathtaking, beautifully bittersweet, cliff-hanger ending.
I await Unbreakable. *winks*
I received a copy of Unraveling from BookLookBloggers review program in exchange for my honest review.
Sara Ella certainly knows how to write a complex and captivating fairy tale-esque story! Unraveling was truly a perfect sequel to Unblemished, and I think I enjoyed it even more!
Realm-travel. Fantasy. Good vs. evil. Romance. Family and friends. Battles and secrets. Such a delightful fairy tale feel! I used to watch "Once Upon a Time" (though I discontinued it for various personal reasons), and Unraveling felt a lot like that tv show, in all the good ways! *smiles* It just has an irresistibly intriguing quality to it.
It was nice to be back with Eliyana Ember and all the other wonderful people who surround her. Ky is my absolute favorite! ^_^
Unraveling was definitely adventurous. The light vs. darkness theme was explored more, and I actually felt it brought across a pretty thoughtful message. There's no clear allegorical theme, which is sometimes hard for me ... But I think Sara Ella did a good job of just making this a crazy, complex, lovely fairy tale with some good lessons to take away from it.
It was fun and interesting to uncover secrets and figure out more of what's going on in this magical Second Reflection. Danger. Drama. Heartache. Sweetness.
There was a scene that I found quite unnecessary. It was brief and not explicit, but I certainly didn't approve! :p I'm kind of discouraged that that particular scene had to be added to an otherwise good book. Probably knocked a star off the rating for me, personally. We'll see how the third book does in this department ...
I once again found the fantasy realm intriguing ... the neat fantasy creatures and cool gifts. I loved the bit of a pirate theme that we got! *grins* Also, all the fairies and queens and legends! *heart eyes* Fairy tale, my friends! If you love fairy tales, the UNBLEMISHED series is probably for you.
THAT ENDING. My heart. Like, tear it out, why don't you?? I was so furious at a certain guy and just upset that such a thing had to happen.
But I suppose it made for a totally heartbreaking, breathtaking, beautifully bittersweet, cliff-hanger ending.
I await Unbreakable. *winks*
I received a copy of Unraveling from BookLookBloggers review program in exchange for my honest review.
Want to read
August 21, 2017OH MY GOODNESS. THIS COVER. I JUST CAN'T GET OVER HOW GORGEOUS THIS COVER IS.
July 10, 2017
About the Book
What happens when happily ever after starts to unravel?
Eliyana Ember doesn't believe in true love. Not anymore. After defeating her grandfather and saving the Second Reflection, El only trusts what's right in front of her. The tangible. The real. Not some unexplained Kiss of Infinity she once shared with the ghost of a boy she's trying to forget. She has more important things to worry about--like becoming queen of the Second Reflection, a role she is so not prepared to fill.
Now that the Verity is intertwined with her soul and Joshua's finally by her side, El is ready to learn more about her mysterious birth land, the land she now rules. So why does she feel like something--or someone--is missing?
When the thresholds begin to drain and the Callings, those powerful magical gifts, begin to fail, El wonders if her link to Ky Rhyen may have something to do with it. For light and darkness cannot coexist. She needs answers before the Callings disappear altogether. Can El find a way to sever her connection to Ky and save the Reflections--and keep herself from falling for him in the process?
My Review
Unraveling is the sequel to Sar Ella's debut YA Fantasy, Unblemished, about a girl who's very power is in her insecurities. Unblemished was an almost perfect yet still a five star read. Unraveling continues the story and doesn't disappoint. It isn't very often when a sequel is almost just as good as it's predecessor, but Unraveling hits the mark.
What happens when happily ever after starts to unravel?
Eliyana Ember doesn't believe in true love. Not anymore. After defeating her grandfather and saving the Second Reflection, El only trusts what's right in front of her. The tangible. The real. Not some unexplained Kiss of Infinity she once shared with the ghost of a boy she's trying to forget. She has more important things to worry about--like becoming queen of the Second Reflection, a role she is so not prepared to fill.
Now that the Verity is intertwined with her soul and Joshua's finally by her side, El is ready to learn more about her mysterious birth land, the land she now rules. So why does she feel like something--or someone--is missing?
When the thresholds begin to drain and the Callings, those powerful magical gifts, begin to fail, El wonders if her link to Ky Rhyen may have something to do with it. For light and darkness cannot coexist. She needs answers before the Callings disappear altogether. Can El find a way to sever her connection to Ky and save the Reflections--and keep herself from falling for him in the process?
My Review
Unraveling is the sequel to Sar Ella's debut YA Fantasy, Unblemished, about a girl who's very power is in her insecurities. Unblemished was an almost perfect yet still a five star read. Unraveling continues the story and doesn't disappoint. It isn't very often when a sequel is almost just as good as it's predecessor, but Unraveling hits the mark.
July 2, 2020
”Find me?”
“Always.”
WOW. I need book 3 ASAP. Sara Ella packed a punch in this second installment of the Unblemished trilogy, and left me really wishing I had book three on hand.
Content:
-Language: crud, crap, etc. [nothing worse than that]
-Romance: hugs, kisses, feelings, thoughts 'best kept private', stares, blushes, ONE romance scene that made me squirm a little with all the kissing [but did not go too far]
-Violence: many fighting scenes, including a murder, stabbing scene [victim does not die], near death experiences, etc.
-Blood/Gore/etc.: descriptions of bloody wounds, going unconscious, the blackened veins of the Void, etc.
While I had a few issues with content, I adore the characters (#teamKy where you at?) and admire their bravery and love. Let me say a few words about them...
-Eliyana: this girl's been through enough already!! and the poor girl keeps struggling to choose between Joshua and Ky. with her Mark on her face, she's struggled with her body image, which I'm sure is something we can all relate to. love her immensely, and i hope she gets a happy ending.
-Ky: *claps* can we give this guy a round of applause? he's waited so patiently for Em to love him back, and his undying love for her [despite her flaws] was beautiful to read. i love the fact that they can communicate telepathically, and that he can see her scar-like Mark and say she's beautiful.
-Joshua: i'm honestly sick of this guy's lengths he's going to to get Em to love him. So much so he's willing to murder for her. love is a choice.. and not something you can force. he deserves to go to a dark island and stay far away from Em.
-Ebony & Khloe: both sisters of Em, i loved seeing their relationships grow stronger with her. though they have their differences, they stood by Em's side to the end. i love them a lot.
What I didn't like:
-How everyone was related. Can we have new characters come in who are not directly related to Eliyana? While it didn't keep me from reading the book, it was annoying and predictable that 'oh this character is going to be related to Eliyana.'
-The romance. While I love a good healthy amount of clean romance in a book, this one was a little much. some reviews I've read have said that one scene alludes to them going too far [while off screen, that was not fun]
-A bit much on the violence side. I am typically fine reading violence, as long as it isn't too gory or vivid. But, this book had a LOT in it. It probably should've been toned down some. Nonetheless, I just skimmed over the more violent scenes and moved on.
This was a good book, despite the content, and I hope Unbreakable brings a satisfying ending!
Soli Deo Gloria
“Always.”
WOW. I need book 3 ASAP. Sara Ella packed a punch in this second installment of the Unblemished trilogy, and left me really wishing I had book three on hand.
Content:
-Language: crud, crap, etc. [nothing worse than that]
-Romance: hugs, kisses, feelings, thoughts 'best kept private', stares, blushes, ONE romance scene that made me squirm a little with all the kissing [but did not go too far]
-Violence: many fighting scenes, including a murder, stabbing scene [victim does not die], near death experiences, etc.
-Blood/Gore/etc.: descriptions of bloody wounds, going unconscious, the blackened veins of the Void, etc.
While I had a few issues with content, I adore the characters (#teamKy where you at?) and admire their bravery and love. Let me say a few words about them...
-Eliyana: this girl's been through enough already!! and the poor girl keeps struggling to choose between Joshua and Ky. with her Mark on her face, she's struggled with her body image, which I'm sure is something we can all relate to. love her immensely, and i hope she gets a happy ending.
-Ky: *claps* can we give this guy a round of applause? he's waited so patiently for Em to love him back, and his undying love for her [despite her flaws] was beautiful to read. i love the fact that they can communicate telepathically, and that he can see her scar-like Mark and say she's beautiful.
-Joshua: i'm honestly sick of this guy's lengths he's going to to get Em to love him. So much so he's willing to murder for her. love is a choice.. and not something you can force. he deserves to go to a dark island and stay far away from Em.
-Ebony & Khloe: both sisters of Em, i loved seeing their relationships grow stronger with her. though they have their differences, they stood by Em's side to the end. i love them a lot.
What I didn't like:
-How everyone was related. Can we have new characters come in who are not directly related to Eliyana? While it didn't keep me from reading the book, it was annoying and predictable that 'oh this character is going to be related to Eliyana.'
-The romance. While I love a good healthy amount of clean romance in a book, this one was a little much. some reviews I've read have said that one scene alludes to them going too far [while off screen, that was not fun]
-A bit much on the violence side. I am typically fine reading violence, as long as it isn't too gory or vivid. But, this book had a LOT in it. It probably should've been toned down some. Nonetheless, I just skimmed over the more violent scenes and moved on.
This was a good book, despite the content, and I hope Unbreakable brings a satisfying ending!
Soli Deo Gloria
Want to read
November 12, 2016Ooo that is such a gorgeous cover!!! ❤️ Cue heart eyes and fangirling :D So pretty!
March 14, 2019
I absolutely adore this story. The very heartbeat of this story linked with mine and I was a part of it every second of the way.
The story is so vibrant and alive, the writing is stunning, everything about this book is breathtaking. It truly outshines the first (also magnificent) book.
I can't recommend this enough.
The story is so vibrant and alive, the writing is stunning, everything about this book is breathtaking. It truly outshines the first (also magnificent) book.
I can't recommend this enough.
Read
September 27, 2017See this entire review along with others on my blog at: shesgoingbookcrazy.com
I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
DNFing at 40%
As a reviewer, I try my darnedest to get through a book, even if I'm not its biggest fan, so I may give it an honest review. Some books, I can hunker down and wait patiently, and am actually satisfied by the result that I did. With others, I get lost in a whirlwind of disinterest and disengagement, and cannot go further.
So, for the record, I really tried, and wanted to like this book!
Despite my overall appreciate of Unblemished (you can see my review here) I could not make heads or tales of what was happening in this plot. Amidst the massive info dumps featuring confusing and intertwined verbiage and metaphor, I found myself working far too hard to understand what was happening here. More than one character ends up being related to another, finds out they have some crazy familial past, an even-more awkward love-triangle unfolds, and so on and so forth.
The author uses references and descriptive terms that are, for lack of better term, cheesy, and awkward.
For example:
...To highlight a few.
I thought it may be a first book fluke (because they were present there as well.) These little additions turned out to be the way the author attempts at creating visuals for the reader. Unfortunately, they result in giving a more distracting, and perplexing image. Not to mention, made me feel like I was back in 3rd grade.
An unrelated point that resulted in a similar reaction were the "song" lyrics that Eilyana would sing during different scenes while using her gift.
Like in Unblemished, I had a difficult time following the action scenes, as well as when the characters transitioned from one reflection to the next. There is so much to this world, or, versions of the worlds that require more detailed explanation to make them clear to the reader.
I really liked, and appreciate the idea that the author had while tackling this series---the battle between the Verity and the Void (good vs. evil) with several underlying themes. After reading Unblemished, I was ready to LOVE this book. But because of it's overall lack of clarity, info-dumping, multiple character point of views, and so forth, I couldn't continue.
Vulgarity: None. HOWEVER, the characters say phrases like: "thank the Verity," or "scared the Void out of me" which is basically replacing "heaven" and "hell," leading the character to actually swear...so...I didn't care for that much.
Sexual content: Kissing only.
Violence: Minimal.
1.5 stars.
A big thanks to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!
I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
DNFing at 40%
Sometimes there is no solution. Sometimes there's simply an end.
As a reviewer, I try my darnedest to get through a book, even if I'm not its biggest fan, so I may give it an honest review. Some books, I can hunker down and wait patiently, and am actually satisfied by the result that I did. With others, I get lost in a whirlwind of disinterest and disengagement, and cannot go further.
So, for the record, I really tried, and wanted to like this book!
Despite my overall appreciate of Unblemished (you can see my review here) I could not make heads or tales of what was happening in this plot. Amidst the massive info dumps featuring confusing and intertwined verbiage and metaphor, I found myself working far too hard to understand what was happening here. More than one character ends up being related to another, finds out they have some crazy familial past, an even-more awkward love-triangle unfolds, and so on and so forth.
The author uses references and descriptive terms that are, for lack of better term, cheesy, and awkward.
For example:
...and my stomach does the Macarena.
My most recent meal tumbles in my gut, banging around like a sneaker in the dryer.
...I pop a squat on the floor, criss-cross applesauce my legs,...
His coat collar is turned up, touching his car-door ears. (What does that even mean!?)
...To highlight a few.
I thought it may be a first book fluke (because they were present there as well.) These little additions turned out to be the way the author attempts at creating visuals for the reader. Unfortunately, they result in giving a more distracting, and perplexing image. Not to mention, made me feel like I was back in 3rd grade.
An unrelated point that resulted in a similar reaction were the "song" lyrics that Eilyana would sing during different scenes while using her gift.
Like in Unblemished, I had a difficult time following the action scenes, as well as when the characters transitioned from one reflection to the next. There is so much to this world, or, versions of the worlds that require more detailed explanation to make them clear to the reader.
I really liked, and appreciate the idea that the author had while tackling this series---the battle between the Verity and the Void (good vs. evil) with several underlying themes. After reading Unblemished, I was ready to LOVE this book. But because of it's overall lack of clarity, info-dumping, multiple character point of views, and so forth, I couldn't continue.
Vulgarity: None. HOWEVER, the characters say phrases like: "thank the Verity," or "scared the Void out of me" which is basically replacing "heaven" and "hell," leading the character to actually swear...so...I didn't care for that much.
Sexual content: Kissing only.
Violence: Minimal.
1.5 stars.
A big thanks to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!
June 16, 2022
RTC (I'm mind blown and still recovering from the plot twist and just, oh my goodness. I am #TeamKy ALL THE WAY. That's all I'll say for now.)
June 17, 2019
Ooookay wow.
What a crazy fun ride.
Book two was definitely better than the first! I loved it! Go, Eliyana Ember! I loved that in book two we get to travel through the amazingly designed world of the Reflections. And so many fun new characters! El's new sister-ship with Ebony was so sweet and adorable and I just can't! El's growth as a character too, was fantastic. And did I mention all the new characters?
Joshua was totally freaking me out, but in the end I found myself feeling for him too, even though El definitely goes with Ky. I also did not like the excessive amount of... romance between El and Ky. It was just too much. I have no quarrel with a few clean kisses here and there, but come on. Sigh.
Oh well.
Once again, Sara Ella, you manage to blow us away with your intricately-woven world, fascinating characters, and whimsical plot. Thank you ever so much for ending this book on a cliffhanger like that. Worse yet, I don't even have the third book on hand to keep myself from getting driven mad with impatience.
I can't wait to see where book three will take me!
What a crazy fun ride.
Book two was definitely better than the first! I loved it! Go, Eliyana Ember! I loved that in book two we get to travel through the amazingly designed world of the Reflections. And so many fun new characters! El's new sister-ship with Ebony was so sweet and adorable and I just can't! El's growth as a character too, was fantastic. And did I mention all the new characters?
Joshua was totally freaking me out, but in the end I found myself feeling for him too, even though El definitely goes with Ky. I also did not like the excessive amount of... romance between El and Ky. It was just too much. I have no quarrel with a few clean kisses here and there, but come on. Sigh.
Oh well.
Once again, Sara Ella, you manage to blow us away with your intricately-woven world, fascinating characters, and whimsical plot. Thank you ever so much for ending this book on a cliffhanger like that. Worse yet, I don't even have the third book on hand to keep myself from getting driven mad with impatience.
I can't wait to see where book three will take me!
February 1, 2018
Just saw the cover of Unraveling and
*wipes away tears of joy*
I think it will do nicely.
So nicely.
*wipes away tears of joy*
I think it will do nicely.
So nicely.
February 28, 2022
Stayed up till 3AM to finish this and I don't regret it one bit. XD
May 27, 2022
TEAM KY! So far..... idk..... I like Ky so I hope he stays. XDD Can't wait to start book three!
April 13, 2018
Another layer is revealed in a beautifully complex story of hope and the fight for good to win over evil in Unraveling, the second book in the Unblemished series by Sara Ella.
Elyana is now queen but living like a shadow of her former self. Joshua, strong and left in charge, can obviously feel the weight of his responsibilities. The tensions rise between the two when something happens that disrupts the almost-happy ending and sends El to make a drastic choice.
On a race through the reflections, El joins with an unlikely partner to bring and end to the voids rule. But can she do it in time to save the ones she loves?
I really enjoyed this complex book filled with twists, turns, secrets, and surprises! I love Sara’s writing and had such a fun time being shocked by her ever-widening plot. Her creativity is also a highlight in this book as we get to see new reflections and meet different characters that add a lovely dimension to an already fantastical book.
If you like urban fantasy and fantasy elements in books you’re in for a treat with this series. I loved book one and was equally pleased with book two. I have an ARC of book three in my possession and can’t wait to see the conclusion!
I definitely recommend this series!
Elyana is now queen but living like a shadow of her former self. Joshua, strong and left in charge, can obviously feel the weight of his responsibilities. The tensions rise between the two when something happens that disrupts the almost-happy ending and sends El to make a drastic choice.
On a race through the reflections, El joins with an unlikely partner to bring and end to the voids rule. But can she do it in time to save the ones she loves?
I really enjoyed this complex book filled with twists, turns, secrets, and surprises! I love Sara’s writing and had such a fun time being shocked by her ever-widening plot. Her creativity is also a highlight in this book as we get to see new reflections and meet different characters that add a lovely dimension to an already fantastical book.
If you like urban fantasy and fantasy elements in books you’re in for a treat with this series. I loved book one and was equally pleased with book two. I have an ARC of book three in my possession and can’t wait to see the conclusion!
I definitely recommend this series!
September 12, 2022
Truly excellent! This series just keeps getting better and better and I wouldn't be surprised if it ends up being my top favorite thing I've read all year! I am giddy with excited to start the next book and see how things end, but truly magnificent! I wish I had read this years ago and look forward to re-reading it in the future and recommending it to all my friends!
May 26, 2017
Y’all. I can’t even. This book. This series. I am undone.
In my inner card catalog, I file it right next to The Chronicles of Narnia and the Harry Potter series because of the sheer joy it brings me as I unearth each new layer of what lies beneath the story.
There’s so much I want to rave about, gush about, FLAIL about. But I can’t… not until you’ve read it too. Because – spoilers. But let me just say that very little played out like I thought it would in this second installment of Sara Ella’s fabulous series. Unraveling held me captive just as much – if not more – than its predecessor Unblemished. Eliyana. Joshua. Ky. And all the other players in this gorgeously creative story kept me riveted and invested and feeling as though I myself had joined them on this emotionally-intense journey.
Unraveling is brilliantly crafted and charmingly written. With nods to pop culture and classic literature, there is something here for every reader. Humor shows up at just the right moments, and Eliyana makes a completely delightful heroine. The love triangle that I agonized over in Unblemished is, in some ways, more clear cut in Unraveling and more complex in others. AND I LOVE IT!!!! Aaaaaaaaaaa!!! I’m still flailing. And grinning. And crying a little inside. (And this from a person who as a rule hates love triangles.)
Bottom Line: The story that’s being told here is simply exquisite, and with each new bit of information uncovered I fall more in love with this trilogy. I cannot wait for book 3 to see how it all plays out, but at the same time I don’t want to see it end. Sara Ella’s writing style is endearing and creative, her characters a reflection (see what I did there?) of her voice. I cannot recommend these books highly enough – and I would suggest that if you haven’t already read Unblemished you grab it before you start on Unraveling as their story threads are so closely aligned.
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
See my review at Reading Is My SuperPower
In my inner card catalog, I file it right next to The Chronicles of Narnia and the Harry Potter series because of the sheer joy it brings me as I unearth each new layer of what lies beneath the story.
There’s so much I want to rave about, gush about, FLAIL about. But I can’t… not until you’ve read it too. Because – spoilers. But let me just say that very little played out like I thought it would in this second installment of Sara Ella’s fabulous series. Unraveling held me captive just as much – if not more – than its predecessor Unblemished. Eliyana. Joshua. Ky. And all the other players in this gorgeously creative story kept me riveted and invested and feeling as though I myself had joined them on this emotionally-intense journey.
Unraveling is brilliantly crafted and charmingly written. With nods to pop culture and classic literature, there is something here for every reader. Humor shows up at just the right moments, and Eliyana makes a completely delightful heroine. The love triangle that I agonized over in Unblemished is, in some ways, more clear cut in Unraveling and more complex in others. AND I LOVE IT!!!! Aaaaaaaaaaa!!! I’m still flailing. And grinning. And crying a little inside. (And this from a person who as a rule hates love triangles.)
Bottom Line: The story that’s being told here is simply exquisite, and with each new bit of information uncovered I fall more in love with this trilogy. I cannot wait for book 3 to see how it all plays out, but at the same time I don’t want to see it end. Sara Ella’s writing style is endearing and creative, her characters a reflection (see what I did there?) of her voice. I cannot recommend these books highly enough – and I would suggest that if you haven’t already read Unblemished you grab it before you start on Unraveling as their story threads are so closely aligned.
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
See my review at Reading Is My SuperPower
June 1, 2017
"I know if we disconnect he might be lost forever. 'l love you; is what I want to say. Instead I ask him, 'Find me?' . . . 'Always.'" (prelude)
Unraveling, book 2 of The Unblemished Trilogy have done its predecessor justice, plus more. Wow! One will need a moment right after finishing this to just sigh and stare, stare into space and revel at the ingenuity of this series. I can't even believe how well this sequel is.
"All fiction is drawn from fact." (265)
The beauty of the writing, language, and the underlying message of good versus evil, reflect so much more than what the story portrayed. The reality of how evil just creeps up on us, if we let it - the vulnerability of life, a reflection of what it truly is.
"You can't be forced to love someone. . . I love him because I love him. I loved him before I linked my soul to his. I just didn't know it." (270 - 271)
The love story? It continues on from the first book that I simply adore. When I think of it, the word, "beautiful" automatically jumps to the forefront. From the cover to the story, to that ending, Unraveling is worth devouring!
This review first appeared on Just Commonly blog.
Please note, quotes taken from an ARC (advanced uncorrected proof). Please refrain from reusing unless first verified with release copy. Thank you.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from the author/publisher. I was not required to write a positive review, and have not been compensated for this. This is my honest opinion.
Unraveling, book 2 of The Unblemished Trilogy have done its predecessor justice, plus more. Wow! One will need a moment right after finishing this to just sigh and stare, stare into space and revel at the ingenuity of this series. I can't even believe how well this sequel is.
"All fiction is drawn from fact." (265)
The beauty of the writing, language, and the underlying message of good versus evil, reflect so much more than what the story portrayed. The reality of how evil just creeps up on us, if we let it - the vulnerability of life, a reflection of what it truly is.
"You can't be forced to love someone. . . I love him because I love him. I loved him before I linked my soul to his. I just didn't know it." (270 - 271)
The love story? It continues on from the first book that I simply adore. When I think of it, the word, "beautiful" automatically jumps to the forefront. From the cover to the story, to that ending, Unraveling is worth devouring!
This review first appeared on Just Commonly blog.
Please note, quotes taken from an ARC (advanced uncorrected proof). Please refrain from reusing unless first verified with release copy. Thank you.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from the author/publisher. I was not required to write a positive review, and have not been compensated for this. This is my honest opinion.
May 27, 2017
Where do I even begin?! This book is such an adventure from page 1, with multiple twists I didn’t see coming (especially the one at about the 30% mark). Continuing with themes of sacrifice, self-confidence, and even the power of true love, Unraveling delves deeper into the story world and deeper into the characters as they face unforeseen challenges to their world. The world-building alone is fascinating as we learn even more about these parallel worlds with Eliyana.
Side note: I think this book could be read out of sequence, but it would be best to start with book 1, Unblemished.
The hold-on-to-your-seat adventure contained in this story is amped up by the constant, elusive battle between good and evil and the soul-deep ties Eliyana has to the people surrounding her. Contrasting the serious themes, though, are pop culture references aplenty. They are included in a manner which makes the contemporary setting of the story shine brightly against the castle and pirate ship locations(!!!). The Disney references make me happy inside — from straight-up mentions to clever plays on words, chapter titles, or similar themes. And, the MUSIC and movie references are a bonus. (The Count of Monte Cristo or Shania Twain, anyone?)
This book progresses the romantic storyline just enough, building on the (very-plausible-because-fantasy-reasons) love triangle established in book one. It still serves as a usable plot device because it contrasts the battle between good and evil in oneself, and the way opinion is influenced by individuals. I appreciate that Eliyana is not a back-and-forth, I-love-both person, yet a genuine individual who knows her choices have an impact on many people, including her choice of a confidant and romantic interest. By story’s end, I think the direction this situation will take is firmly in place, and I’m totally happy with it. But Sara IS known to throw surprises at us readers! The waiting will be agony (insert Into the Woods musical number here).
Like with the first book, I am intrigued by the symbolism showcasing the battle of good vs. evil, or the Verity and Void, as it’s termed in this series. When this story is examined closely, an observant reader will see detailed Biblical parallels with elements of faith, the power of light to overcome darkness, and even a mirror of the creation story and Eden. I think this book raises important questions about choices and human nature — how much of our life is defined by our own choices or free will? How much because of other people’s influence? Will you choose to embrace the Source of light and truth or “feed” an evil nature?
From dimension-travel to pirate ships and deserts, Unraveling covers the bases of adventure and the young adult genre while still maintaining an overarching plot with elements of faith. I haven’t even mentioned the fun and mysterious secondary characters OR the fairies! And the troll. This is one stunning, well-developed story that should appeal to fans of YA, fantasy, adventure, Disney fairytales, or even contemporary YA romance. I seriously can’t WAIT to find out what happens in the conclusion of the series come book 3!
Thank you to the publisher, Thomas Nelson, for the review copy of this book for the purpose of this tour. This is my honest review.
Side note: I think this book could be read out of sequence, but it would be best to start with book 1, Unblemished.
The hold-on-to-your-seat adventure contained in this story is amped up by the constant, elusive battle between good and evil and the soul-deep ties Eliyana has to the people surrounding her. Contrasting the serious themes, though, are pop culture references aplenty. They are included in a manner which makes the contemporary setting of the story shine brightly against the castle and pirate ship locations(!!!). The Disney references make me happy inside — from straight-up mentions to clever plays on words, chapter titles, or similar themes. And, the MUSIC and movie references are a bonus. (The Count of Monte Cristo or Shania Twain, anyone?)
This book progresses the romantic storyline just enough, building on the (very-plausible-because-fantasy-reasons) love triangle established in book one. It still serves as a usable plot device because it contrasts the battle between good and evil in oneself, and the way opinion is influenced by individuals. I appreciate that Eliyana is not a back-and-forth, I-love-both person, yet a genuine individual who knows her choices have an impact on many people, including her choice of a confidant and romantic interest. By story’s end, I think the direction this situation will take is firmly in place, and I’m totally happy with it. But Sara IS known to throw surprises at us readers! The waiting will be agony (insert Into the Woods musical number here).
Like with the first book, I am intrigued by the symbolism showcasing the battle of good vs. evil, or the Verity and Void, as it’s termed in this series. When this story is examined closely, an observant reader will see detailed Biblical parallels with elements of faith, the power of light to overcome darkness, and even a mirror of the creation story and Eden. I think this book raises important questions about choices and human nature — how much of our life is defined by our own choices or free will? How much because of other people’s influence? Will you choose to embrace the Source of light and truth or “feed” an evil nature?
From dimension-travel to pirate ships and deserts, Unraveling covers the bases of adventure and the young adult genre while still maintaining an overarching plot with elements of faith. I haven’t even mentioned the fun and mysterious secondary characters OR the fairies! And the troll. This is one stunning, well-developed story that should appeal to fans of YA, fantasy, adventure, Disney fairytales, or even contemporary YA romance. I seriously can’t WAIT to find out what happens in the conclusion of the series come book 3!
Thank you to the publisher, Thomas Nelson, for the review copy of this book for the purpose of this tour. This is my honest review.
June 1, 2017
Sara Ella has truly bewitched me with Unraveling. So many twists, so many emotions, so many aspects that will leave you speechless and unable to move...More than once my husband would look over at me and say "Shhhh"...Because HE was trying to read his book and I was over here repeating myself..."NO!!!! Noooooo!!! NO!" or "WHAAAAAAAAAT?????" (you get the picture?)
With an eloquence that is rarely seen (especially in YA) Sara Ella has created "a whole new world" for us to discover! Infused with the life force of music and song, this aspect of Eliyana truly speaks to my heart. For readers who have not delved into the heart of fantasy fiction, this is a really good place to start (although I recommend starting with Unblemished first). Because Sara merges the real world and the fantasy world so seamlessly it is so much easier to follow along. Yes there are new phrases and places and words that you have never heard of, but the familiar is referenced enough throughout the story that I was able to stay grounded and my mind sane. One of my favorite parts of this book is all of the music references. From having song lyrics as the chapter titles, to the melody El hears in her head. Music is her strength, her life. And I love how we discover her TRUE nature, the fierce and bold person that rises to the surface.
The bottom line is that I LOVE this book. Be prepared for a MASSIVE book hangover. (Please resist throwing your Kindle and/or book at anyone or anything after you finish...I understand I do....but we only have to wait
Please note that this is the SECOND book of the series. You will be totally lost if you pick up Unraveling without reading Unblemished first. My review will be available this summer for Unblemished.
I received a complimentary copy of Unraveling from the publisher through NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.
With an eloquence that is rarely seen (especially in YA) Sara Ella has created "a whole new world" for us to discover! Infused with the life force of music and song, this aspect of Eliyana truly speaks to my heart. For readers who have not delved into the heart of fantasy fiction, this is a really good place to start (although I recommend starting with Unblemished first). Because Sara merges the real world and the fantasy world so seamlessly it is so much easier to follow along. Yes there are new phrases and places and words that you have never heard of, but the familiar is referenced enough throughout the story that I was able to stay grounded and my mind sane. One of my favorite parts of this book is all of the music references. From having song lyrics as the chapter titles, to the melody El hears in her head. Music is her strength, her life. And I love how we discover her TRUE nature, the fierce and bold person that rises to the surface.
The bottom line is that I LOVE this book. Be prepared for a MASSIVE book hangover. (Please resist throwing your Kindle and/or book at anyone or anything after you finish...I understand I do....but we only have to wait
Please note that this is the SECOND book of the series. You will be totally lost if you pick up Unraveling without reading Unblemished first. My review will be available this summer for Unblemished.
I received a complimentary copy of Unraveling from the publisher through NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.
August 10, 2017
The much-anticipated sequel to Unblemished, Unraveling by Sara Ella takes it up a notch. Since it immersed me right back into the story that began in Book One, I felt like I picked up right where we left off with no hitch. And I think I finished this book even faster than I did the first one.
I absolutely loved how this book delved deeper than the first, which had to understandably introduce the storyworld. But Unraveling dives into the character's minds, motivations, and individual missions. Woven all together, they make up a fascinating plot that had me turning pages well into the night!
I was totally #TeamKy after reading the end of Unblemished, but I'm even more so now! Still, if you're on the fence of which hero you're pulling for, or even #TeamJoshua (how? just, how?), you'll still undoubtedly enjoy Unraveling by Sara Ella.
I highly recommend this series to you if you at all enjoy Young Adult fiction and especially if you enjoyed Book One (don't miss it!).
I absolutely loved how this book delved deeper than the first, which had to understandably introduce the storyworld. But Unraveling dives into the character's minds, motivations, and individual missions. Woven all together, they make up a fascinating plot that had me turning pages well into the night!
I was totally #TeamKy after reading the end of Unblemished, but I'm even more so now! Still, if you're on the fence of which hero you're pulling for, or even #TeamJoshua (how? just, how?), you'll still undoubtedly enjoy Unraveling by Sara Ella.
I highly recommend this series to you if you at all enjoy Young Adult fiction and especially if you enjoyed Book One (don't miss it!).
May 31, 2017
Disappointed by some of the content but still an amazing sequel... full review to come.
May 25, 2017
"Without him now, darkness descends.
Where it begins, my light does end."
(Ella, Unraveling)
With the continuation of book one, Unblemished, Unraveling will draw you deeper in to the faerie tale. You will be immersed in to the legend of the Verity and the Void. You will be tossed around, like a ship on the sea, by the emotions and heartache, and you will be left wondering if light will truly prevail over darkness.
The Plot: Following the events of Unblemished, El is now training to understand her calling and her status as a mirror. Being the new vessel for the Verity, coronation day comes quicker than she would like. Believing all is right in the reflection, and finally having Joshua outwardly profess his love, El begins to feel safe, until all goes terribly wrong during her crowning. Discovering that the callings are beginning to fade away, and that she is now psychically linked to Ky, El embarks on a dangerous journey to find answers and restore her kingdom. Can she find the truth, save Ky from the Void, and figure out who she truly loves?
I began Unraveling in hopes of having a mild reprieve from the craziness and confusion in Unblemished. Instead, the book jumped right back in to the thick of it all. I enjoyed the faerie tale aspect of the books, but still just feel like the writing style is not for me (i.e. there is no real separation between real time story line and memories, Eliyana does a lot of internal speaking and weird onomatopoeia actions, like gasp or huff, without clear separation from the narration, and it feels like the author tries too hard to throw in real word references, like song lyrics being sung in El's head, or movie references). Again, I feel like there was enough uniqueness and intrigue within the story to keep me reading, but the writing style and the forced love triangle keep me from jumping to recommend the books.
From the ending of Unblemished, we learn that the Verity felt that El was pure enough to become its vessel and since she loved both Josh and Ky, they both took on the burden of being vessels for the Void. Because El gave Ky a Kiss of Infinity, they are both physically linked as far as feeling each other's pain. Since Josh gave El the same kiss, he can feel her pain and she can be healed by him since he is an Ever, which means Ky can also be healed indirectly. It's a somewhat interesting and new approach to the love triangle trope, but it still feels a little forced, and confusing. It also leads to the confusing point of the plot. El embarks on her journey to find out the origin of the Verity and Void. In book 1 we learn that they balance each other, and one cannot exist without the other, but El's journey leads us to search for answers on how to destroy the void. What?
"It should be easier to trust the boy I've known for years rather than one I just met." (Ella, Unraveling).
I didn't intend to be quite so negative in the review. I enjoyed the books enough that I will pick up the 3rd one when it comes out so I can find out what happens. I just felt that the love triangle was forced and over used. El seemed so much more focused on figuring out her love triangle situation than she did about really learning about her abilities or figuring out how to save the kingdom.
I did enjoy the faerie tale feel. It seemed that the author took inspiration from Sleeping Beauty, Aladdin, Beautiful Creatures, and City of Bones. I still feel that the world building for the reflections was enchanting and does help make up for the overused trope.
"This Reflection continues to astonish me. A beautiful Troll. A hulking merman. A childlike leviathan..." (Ella, Unraveling).
I would rate this book about 3-3.5 stars. It had enough unique qualities to keep my interest and I will be reading the 3rd book when it is released. Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with this free e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Where it begins, my light does end."
(Ella, Unraveling)
With the continuation of book one, Unblemished, Unraveling will draw you deeper in to the faerie tale. You will be immersed in to the legend of the Verity and the Void. You will be tossed around, like a ship on the sea, by the emotions and heartache, and you will be left wondering if light will truly prevail over darkness.
The Plot: Following the events of Unblemished, El is now training to understand her calling and her status as a mirror. Being the new vessel for the Verity, coronation day comes quicker than she would like. Believing all is right in the reflection, and finally having Joshua outwardly profess his love, El begins to feel safe, until all goes terribly wrong during her crowning. Discovering that the callings are beginning to fade away, and that she is now psychically linked to Ky, El embarks on a dangerous journey to find answers and restore her kingdom. Can she find the truth, save Ky from the Void, and figure out who she truly loves?
I began Unraveling in hopes of having a mild reprieve from the craziness and confusion in Unblemished. Instead, the book jumped right back in to the thick of it all. I enjoyed the faerie tale aspect of the books, but still just feel like the writing style is not for me (i.e. there is no real separation between real time story line and memories, Eliyana does a lot of internal speaking and weird onomatopoeia actions, like gasp or huff, without clear separation from the narration, and it feels like the author tries too hard to throw in real word references, like song lyrics being sung in El's head, or movie references). Again, I feel like there was enough uniqueness and intrigue within the story to keep me reading, but the writing style and the forced love triangle keep me from jumping to recommend the books.
From the ending of Unblemished, we learn that the Verity felt that El was pure enough to become its vessel and since she loved both Josh and Ky, they both took on the burden of being vessels for the Void. Because El gave Ky a Kiss of Infinity, they are both physically linked as far as feeling each other's pain. Since Josh gave El the same kiss, he can feel her pain and she can be healed by him since he is an Ever, which means Ky can also be healed indirectly. It's a somewhat interesting and new approach to the love triangle trope, but it still feels a little forced, and confusing. It also leads to the confusing point of the plot. El embarks on her journey to find out the origin of the Verity and Void. In book 1 we learn that they balance each other, and one cannot exist without the other, but El's journey leads us to search for answers on how to destroy the void. What?
"It should be easier to trust the boy I've known for years rather than one I just met." (Ella, Unraveling).
I didn't intend to be quite so negative in the review. I enjoyed the books enough that I will pick up the 3rd one when it comes out so I can find out what happens. I just felt that the love triangle was forced and over used. El seemed so much more focused on figuring out her love triangle situation than she did about really learning about her abilities or figuring out how to save the kingdom.
I did enjoy the faerie tale feel. It seemed that the author took inspiration from Sleeping Beauty, Aladdin, Beautiful Creatures, and City of Bones. I still feel that the world building for the reflections was enchanting and does help make up for the overused trope.
"This Reflection continues to astonish me. A beautiful Troll. A hulking merman. A childlike leviathan..." (Ella, Unraveling).
I would rate this book about 3-3.5 stars. It had enough unique qualities to keep my interest and I will be reading the 3rd book when it is released. Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with this free e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
December 18, 2017
3.5 Stars.
I was given this book for a free and honest review.
Sara Ella does it again with a blend of fairy tales and pop culture references. I still got that 10th Kingdom/Once upon a time vibe. I did enjoy all those references and call outs, there were times I wondered if it was too much. And while I struggled with reading the first part of this book the ending has me hooked in a way that I just have to have the next book.
Full Video Review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WY5WT...
I was given this book for a free and honest review.
Sara Ella does it again with a blend of fairy tales and pop culture references. I still got that 10th Kingdom/Once upon a time vibe. I did enjoy all those references and call outs, there were times I wondered if it was too much. And while I struggled with reading the first part of this book the ending has me hooked in a way that I just have to have the next book.
Full Video Review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WY5WT...
July 24, 2017
To be honest, I enjoyed Unraveling a lot more than Unblemished. I was a lot less confused, the story was easier to follow... and it was SOOOOO complex!!!! *dies* I so enjoyed the COMPLETELY unexpected plot twist. Also, El was a lot easier to connect with in this book. The emotions were a lot more real and raw for everyone. And this book made me love Ky a lot more. I wasn't too keen on him in Unblemished, but now that I know him a little better--yep. He's awesome. <3 Something I didn't like so much about the book was that the first half seemed kinda slow. However, at the halfway mark it picked up speed and I was hooked for the remainder.
And the cover?!? *squeals* It's just as beautiful as I anticipated!!!!!! The colors are so vibrant, there are so many different little tiny details...I could stare at it forever. *heart eyes*
This series is well worth the read. It's a completely different kind of adventure in a genre that I don't usually read, but I LOVED it!!!
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