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Whitewashed #1
The Trace
The ruthless Grifters want Ella Kepler, and they won’t stop until she’s theirs.
When Ella’s metahuman abilities manifest and draw the attention of the Grifters, she seeks safety from the paramilitary training academy of the MTA. Thrust alongside soldiers programmed to fight or die, Ella struggles to stay afloat, hopeful that the Grifters will forget about her.
But Grifters have a long memory, and their nature isn’t compassionate. If Ella doesn’t give them what they want, someone she loves will pay the price—and it will be all Ella’s fault.
THE TRACE is the first book in the “Whitewashed” trilogy, a story of an endless battle between powerful enemies, and the girl who’s stuck in the middle 18 years too late.
“Thorne does an amazing job showing the complexity of war: the who-is-right and who-is-wrong when both sides have desires that make sense, the pain it inflicts upon generations, the search for truth, and the inner-battle we all must face when choosing which side we will and should fight for... I highly, HIGHLY, recommend this book.” ~ K.A. Parkinson, Author of “The Chosen Chronicles”
When Ella’s metahuman abilities manifest and draw the attention of the Grifters, she seeks safety from the paramilitary training academy of the MTA. Thrust alongside soldiers programmed to fight or die, Ella struggles to stay afloat, hopeful that the Grifters will forget about her.
But Grifters have a long memory, and their nature isn’t compassionate. If Ella doesn’t give them what they want, someone she loves will pay the price—and it will be all Ella’s fault.
THE TRACE is the first book in the “Whitewashed” trilogy, a story of an endless battle between powerful enemies, and the girl who’s stuck in the middle 18 years too late.
“Thorne does an amazing job showing the complexity of war: the who-is-right and who-is-wrong when both sides have desires that make sense, the pain it inflicts upon generations, the search for truth, and the inner-battle we all must face when choosing which side we will and should fight for... I highly, HIGHLY, recommend this book.” ~ K.A. Parkinson, Author of “The Chosen Chronicles”
316 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 1, 2018
25 people are currently reading
445 people want to read
About the author
Adelaide Thorne
5 books68 followersAs a child, Adelaide Thorne was so picky that her family would sing songs to encourage her to eat. It didn't work. All she ever wanted to eat was pickles and canned Chicken & Stars soup. Then she grew up and became a food journalist and restaurant reviewer for the local newspaper. So, you just never know how people are going to turn out.
She once dragged her friends all the way to Iceland for book research. She never did find a portal to another world, but at least she got to climb an inactive volcano. Currently she lives with her family in the muggy wetlands of Florida, where she is known to be allergic to palmetto bugs, humidity, and flip-flops. Soup is still her favorite food.
Find her online at AdelaideThorne.com
instagram.com/adelaidethorne
She once dragged her friends all the way to Iceland for book research. She never did find a portal to another world, but at least she got to climb an inactive volcano. Currently she lives with her family in the muggy wetlands of Florida, where she is known to be allergic to palmetto bugs, humidity, and flip-flops. Soup is still her favorite food.
Find her online at AdelaideThorne.com
instagram.com/adelaidethorne
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
October 23, 2018
Ella Kepler lives a monotonous, placid, suburban existence. She is the only child of nice parents in a nice neighborhood. Ella is kind of a geek and only has one real friend, but that friend is Kara Watson, probably the kindest person in town, so that’s all right. Other than arts and crafts with Kara, occasional unpleasant flare-ups from Kara’s maladjusted brother Kyle, movie marathons with Mom and Dad, or awkward run-ins with school hunk Jimmy Daniels, Ella has nothing happening in her life at all...
…except the reoccurring nightmare of being chased by unseen monsters into various locations where the letters EN are written. E. N. EN. Ella has suffered this dream so many times she’s become obsessed, but she can’t imagine what the letters stand for. They are often accompanied by a mysterious symbol she’s never seen elsewhere.
But one day, after a replay of the dream, a change occurs, its cause unclear. Suddenly the always dweeby Ella has the strength, speed and endurance to become the queen of high school gym class—despite never working out or practicing. She has also become convinced that people are watching her, which turns out to be true when a gang on motorcycles briefly surrounds her house. And Jimmy now wants to hang out with her, despite never having paid her much mind before. She begins to wonder if he has any connection to these strange phenomena, since none of it seems to faze him.
Then, with terrible swiftness, Ella’s world is invaded in earnest by the watchers. There are two groups of these.
The first are the Academists, kids with superpowers like Ella’s sudden-onset athleticism. This is the group that whisks her away to their secret school in the deep wilderness to learn the control of her abilities, where she befriends the awkward Avary and the charismatic, handsome Ethan Sheedy. Most Academists are telekinetic and can move objects with minimal effort, but Ella did not spontaneously develop this skill and struggles to learn it.
The other group are the disfigured, faceless monsters called Grifters, a humanoid but not quite human species of telepaths, who have been fighting with the Academists for so many generations that no one now remembers what started the conflict.
The Grifters want something from Ella, and kidnap her best friend for leverage. To save Kara, Ella will have to walk right into enemy territory when she barely understands her own world…
Content Advisory
Violence: A great deal of gritty martial-arts duels. Occasionally the characters also fight with guns or knives and get killed. At one point a child is beaten and Ella assumes he died, but he turns up okay later. A girl gets her fingers broken and they never properly heal, giving them a permanent clawed appearance. In one sobering scene, a young woman has to carry a dead kid away from a battle. Kyle is verbally (and possibly physically) abusive of Kara.
Sex: Nothing. Zilch. Nada.
Language: Also nothing.
Substance Abuse: Nothing that could qualify.
Nightmare Fuel: The Grifters have grey craggy skin, no noses, no mouths, and empty pitch-black eye sockets (they can see, but it’s complicated how).
Conclusions
This is a highly underrated YA sci-fi thriller that deserves a wide audience.
The characters are strong, especially Ella. Sometimes I found it irritating how often she brought up that she was “perfectly normal”, but here’s the thing: she really is. She’s a convincing adolescent girl character who can’t get her hair to stop frizzing, schemes to escape from gym class, and is dumbfounded when a cute guy unexpectedly says hello. She’s also much braver and more loyal than she thinks she is.
Kara is the Jane Bennet to Ella’s snarky Lizzy. Ethan is a charmer who hides his pain well, and if you ask me we don’t see nearly enough of him. Durgan is the most complex character in the ensemble; he turns the whole thing on its head.
The plot is clever—it spends the first half of the book convincing you the story will go one way, while planting all the seeds to steer it in the opposite direction in Act II. There are several moments where the rug gets pulled out from under the reader, and they get more frequent and intense as the story progresses.
There are several teases that the story isn’t over, but these are natural and they make you actually want to read the sequel. Book Two of the planned Whitewashed Trilogy will tie up some of the plot threads while intensifying others and promises to feature a lot more Ethan, which is just what I hoped for.
I loved how subtle the nascent romance was in this. What a nice break from all the melodrama, hormones, and pandering of the typical YA book!
Adelaide Thorne has created a bleak but poignant thriller that asks some tough questions and holds on to hope. It’s a wickedly paced tale of mutants, man-created monsters, and government secrets—it’s like the Maximum Ride series, except with well-developed characters and literate prose and an actual plot and maturity and depth.
I enjoyed it. I think you folks will like it too.
…except the reoccurring nightmare of being chased by unseen monsters into various locations where the letters EN are written. E. N. EN. Ella has suffered this dream so many times she’s become obsessed, but she can’t imagine what the letters stand for. They are often accompanied by a mysterious symbol she’s never seen elsewhere.
But one day, after a replay of the dream, a change occurs, its cause unclear. Suddenly the always dweeby Ella has the strength, speed and endurance to become the queen of high school gym class—despite never working out or practicing. She has also become convinced that people are watching her, which turns out to be true when a gang on motorcycles briefly surrounds her house. And Jimmy now wants to hang out with her, despite never having paid her much mind before. She begins to wonder if he has any connection to these strange phenomena, since none of it seems to faze him.
Then, with terrible swiftness, Ella’s world is invaded in earnest by the watchers. There are two groups of these.
The first are the Academists, kids with superpowers like Ella’s sudden-onset athleticism. This is the group that whisks her away to their secret school in the deep wilderness to learn the control of her abilities, where she befriends the awkward Avary and the charismatic, handsome Ethan Sheedy. Most Academists are telekinetic and can move objects with minimal effort, but Ella did not spontaneously develop this skill and struggles to learn it.
The other group are the disfigured, faceless monsters called Grifters, a humanoid but not quite human species of telepaths, who have been fighting with the Academists for so many generations that no one now remembers what started the conflict.
The Grifters want something from Ella, and kidnap her best friend for leverage. To save Kara, Ella will have to walk right into enemy territory when she barely understands her own world…
Content Advisory
Violence: A great deal of gritty martial-arts duels. Occasionally the characters also fight with guns or knives and get killed. At one point a child is beaten and Ella assumes he died, but he turns up okay later. A girl gets her fingers broken and they never properly heal, giving them a permanent clawed appearance. In one sobering scene, a young woman has to carry a dead kid away from a battle. Kyle is verbally (and possibly physically) abusive of Kara.
Sex: Nothing. Zilch. Nada.
Language: Also nothing.
Substance Abuse: Nothing that could qualify.
Nightmare Fuel: The Grifters have grey craggy skin, no noses, no mouths, and empty pitch-black eye sockets (they can see, but it’s complicated how).
Conclusions
This is a highly underrated YA sci-fi thriller that deserves a wide audience.
The characters are strong, especially Ella. Sometimes I found it irritating how often she brought up that she was “perfectly normal”, but here’s the thing: she really is. She’s a convincing adolescent girl character who can’t get her hair to stop frizzing, schemes to escape from gym class, and is dumbfounded when a cute guy unexpectedly says hello. She’s also much braver and more loyal than she thinks she is.
Kara is the Jane Bennet to Ella’s snarky Lizzy. Ethan is a charmer who hides his pain well, and if you ask me we don’t see nearly enough of him. Durgan is the most complex character in the ensemble; he turns the whole thing on its head.
The plot is clever—it spends the first half of the book convincing you the story will go one way, while planting all the seeds to steer it in the opposite direction in Act II. There are several moments where the rug gets pulled out from under the reader, and they get more frequent and intense as the story progresses.
There are several teases that the story isn’t over, but these are natural and they make you actually want to read the sequel. Book Two of the planned Whitewashed Trilogy will tie up some of the plot threads while intensifying others and promises to feature a lot more Ethan, which is just what I hoped for.
I loved how subtle the nascent romance was in this. What a nice break from all the melodrama, hormones, and pandering of the typical YA book!
Adelaide Thorne has created a bleak but poignant thriller that asks some tough questions and holds on to hope. It’s a wickedly paced tale of mutants, man-created monsters, and government secrets—it’s like the Maximum Ride series, except with well-developed characters and literate prose and an actual plot and maturity and depth.
I enjoyed it. I think you folks will like it too.
January 4, 2021
This is a brilliant book. As good as they come. One of the best in the genre.
What am I saying? This book has assaulted my emotions and now it's just lingering. Don't you hate it when a book does that? Just linger in your mind for an indefinite amount of time, forcing you to reread over and over again trying to pick up everything you missed before? And then it just won't leave you until it does and then you have to move on with life.
I'm being overdramatic. Really. This is hardly a review.
But. I should be writing that review. So now I will.
WORLDBUILDING: I'm not a sci-fi-techy person at all, but thank goodness, this series is one of those bio-physics-sci-fi world stuff, so I could actually understand what was going on, not half of the time, but all of the time! (me with a AI or space-fiction book, on the other hand...) I've heard that the worldbuilding is kind of all over the place, and it is a lot to take in at once, but I didn't have trouble processing any of it. But maybe because I'm just a worldbuilding geek and am able to handle stuff like that more so than other, less-worldbuilding-focused readers.
The whole concept of metahumans and whatnot was pretty neat. Also, did anyone else get KotLC vibes reading this? I mean, that's fantasy and this is sci-fi, but they're both explained as if it's sci-fi, but to be honest Whitewashed is better, lol.
STORY: I am in AWE. Know that I'm writing this review after having read the entire trilogy, but I just wanna say that Adelaide is a MASTER of twists-- and the appropriate foreshadowing that should come along with it. She broke every cliché into a million pieces, just like that. So well done.
THEME: Definitely one of my favorite parts about this story. I love, love, LOVE when authors dare to exploit one of the biggest problems in existence, namely, compassion. It's so not a thing in way too much of fiction nowadays. The character arcs were so well done, too. Don't you love it when the main character learns something that isn't the commonly-recurring theme of self-worth or self-strength? Not that those are bad things, but you'd think authors would realize there's a lot more to human character than just that. Compassion is much more of a "heavy theme" than a lot of people realize. Especially when it has to do with war. Even spec-fic war.
CHARACTERS: At last. My favorite part.
Ella~ I rarely ever read a female YA protagonist I like. Ella is totally awesome. She has her fair share of problems, and the best thing is, her CHARACTER ARC WAS AN ACTUAL CHARACTER ARC. I am so passionate about the topic of compassion and empathy I just--
Ethan~ I prefer to call him Sheedy. He's not my favorite character, but he exceeded my expectations by a million miles. He was awesome too, and unlike too many YA love interests, had plenty of his own flawsthat were actual flaws and not other people's problems.
Kara~ she is such a precious little cinnamon roll but still like the wisest bff I've ever read about
Burnette~ I shall not speak for fear of spoilers *staunchly refuses to cry*
Everyone Else~ ALLLLLL THE LOVE. Every single one of the (good?) guys totally found their way into my heart. Although actually, plenty of times you'll be wondering exactly who IS the good guy and who isn't. Each of these side characters have so much depth! They're so real! And they get better :)
HUMOR: From now on I should definitely make this an important part in my reviewsbecause humor is like everything. Let me just say, this book made me laugh out loud more than once.
And that concludes my long, astonishingly spoiler-free, not-really-gushy review! Note about the content: if it weren't for the violence and heavy themes about violence/war/death/compassion, I would mark this as a middle-grade. There is romance, but it is 100% squeaky clean and there are no innuendos or sick stuff you find in so much YA these days. I am unbearably happy about that.
5/5 stars!
What am I saying? This book has assaulted my emotions and now it's just lingering. Don't you hate it when a book does that? Just linger in your mind for an indefinite amount of time, forcing you to reread over and over again trying to pick up everything you missed before? And then it just won't leave you until it does and then you have to move on with life.
I'm being overdramatic. Really. This is hardly a review.
But. I should be writing that review. So now I will.
WORLDBUILDING: I'm not a sci-fi-techy person at all, but thank goodness, this series is one of those bio-physics-sci-fi world stuff, so I could actually understand what was going on, not half of the time, but all of the time! (me with a AI or space-fiction book, on the other hand...) I've heard that the worldbuilding is kind of all over the place, and it is a lot to take in at once, but I didn't have trouble processing any of it. But maybe because I'm just a worldbuilding geek and am able to handle stuff like that more so than other, less-worldbuilding-focused readers.
The whole concept of metahumans and whatnot was pretty neat. Also, did anyone else get KotLC vibes reading this? I mean, that's fantasy and this is sci-fi, but they're both explained as if it's sci-fi, but to be honest Whitewashed is better, lol.
STORY: I am in AWE. Know that I'm writing this review after having read the entire trilogy, but I just wanna say that Adelaide is a MASTER of twists-- and the appropriate foreshadowing that should come along with it. She broke every cliché into a million pieces, just like that. So well done.
THEME: Definitely one of my favorite parts about this story. I love, love, LOVE when authors dare to exploit one of the biggest problems in existence, namely, compassion. It's so not a thing in way too much of fiction nowadays. The character arcs were so well done, too. Don't you love it when the main character learns something that isn't the commonly-recurring theme of self-worth or self-strength? Not that those are bad things, but you'd think authors would realize there's a lot more to human character than just that. Compassion is much more of a "heavy theme" than a lot of people realize. Especially when it has to do with war. Even spec-fic war.
CHARACTERS: At last. My favorite part.
Ella~ I rarely ever read a female YA protagonist I like. Ella is totally awesome. She has her fair share of problems, and the best thing is, her CHARACTER ARC WAS AN ACTUAL CHARACTER ARC. I am so passionate about the topic of compassion and empathy I just--
Ethan~ I prefer to call him Sheedy. He's not my favorite character, but he exceeded my expectations by a million miles. He was awesome too, and unlike too many YA love interests, had plenty of his own flaws
Kara~ she is such a precious little cinnamon roll but still like the wisest bff I've ever read about
Burnette~ I shall not speak for fear of spoilers *staunchly refuses to cry*
Everyone Else~ ALLLLLL THE LOVE. Every single one of the (good?) guys totally found their way into my heart. Although actually, plenty of times you'll be wondering exactly who IS the good guy and who isn't. Each of these side characters have so much depth! They're so real! And they get better :)
HUMOR: From now on I should definitely make this an important part in my reviews
And that concludes my long, astonishingly spoiler-free, not-really-gushy review! Note about the content: if it weren't for the violence and heavy themes about violence/war/death/compassion, I would mark this as a middle-grade. There is romance, but it is 100% squeaky clean and there are no innuendos or sick stuff you find in so much YA these days. I am unbearably happy about that.
5/5 stars!
October 28, 2018
I HAVE SO MANY THOUGHTS!!
This is Adelaide Thorne as she left us all hanging by a thread at the end of this book!!! I'm still shook by the last 35% of the story, I can't even.
Let me tell you about my THE TRACE reading journey primarily in gifs, because right now that's about all of the emotional capacity I have (thanks for that, Ad).
My thoughts/expectations going into this book:
The first 10-15%, as the baseline is established with the MC, Ella, and surrounding characters:
*Brace yourself for brutal honesty, forgive me!!!!!*
This part moved in a way that was a little troubling for me. You know when you take a dog for a walk, and the dog is going so fast and furious that it winds up walking YOU? That's how the pace of this section felt. I was constantly going, "WHOA! AH! Trying to connect...trying...too many dots! What is happening?? SUCH FASTNESS! Why aren't THESE questions being asked??? BAH!" I didn't get emotionally invested in any characters until I met...
*swoon*...Ethan Sheedy, a tasty example of the strong & silent, reliable, friendly companion with a really expressive face. 😏
When Ella is at the Academy:
*Just a little bit more brutal honesty, eeeep! 😶* This section had the opposite sensation as the first: it dragged. Maybe because I doomed myself right off the bat with a certain expectation, like when Harry first gets to Hogwarts, or when Tris first enters the compound for Dauntless. I had foreseen fireworks of awe. But Ella's introduction to the Academy was a bit...anti-climactic. And even though I was still invested in finding out answers to Ella's and my questions, not only were they not coming fast enough, the stakes were not going up during that time, either. BUT, in total fairness, I don't think this would have bothered me during a binge read. But because of my schedule and just life, I was forced to read this section in spaced out chunks, and that's not ideal for staying immersed in a story; so I mostly discount my feelings during this part. Though something really great that did happen here, which is important to mention, was that I did come to find Ella much more relatable because I was finally seeing into her character with a lens I could actually handle.
Start of Part 3:
Quickly discovered I would not be putting the book down anytime soon, even for sleeping or eating.
As Part 3 went on:
By the end:
A bit excessive, you may say? Actually, this is conservative. To say surprises came like BOOM-BOOM-BOOM...that's an understatement. AND I LOVED IT!!! I so often predict where a story is going, and I absolutely get GIDDY when I'm thrown for a loop. All my prior qualms flew out the window, because the last quarter+ of the book just blew me away!!
My final emotion:
Five hard-earned stars.
Adelaide Thorne has this series IN. THE. BAG. I absolutely can't wait until the next book, and am SO glad things fell in such a way to where I do not have to wait very long before THE INTEGER graces my Kindle!!!!
May 31, 2019
"There is goodness in some, Ella Kepler."
Do I even have words to describe this book? Let's try, shall we?
This book is incredible. I haven't had a book twist my mind into as many knots as this series did in a good long while. It took me longer than I expected to get through this book, but in looking back, I realize it's because I didn't want it to end. Genuinely. I already want to re-read it.
Things I want to say:
- Ella is an awesome protagonist. Flawed, but not beyond likeability. I love that she truly struggled with whether or not she wanted to be the hero.
- I may or may not be low-key in love with Ethan Sheedy.
- Avary and Reynolds are both simultaneously me. And I love it.
- Platonic love between friends is held as just as important and quest-worthy as romantic love.
- Sheedy is beautiful and perfect and everything i love.
- The Grifters are fascinating and I realized only three-quarters into this book that I was picturing them completely wrong, but here we are. Lol.
- Ella's from Florida as Adelaide is from Florida and as someone from Florida I appreciated all of those bits.
- Have I mentioned Sheedy?
Anyway, yes, this book is 100% worth the hype and I adored every second of it. This is going to be a series that I recommend to anyone and everyone, good grief. I loved it so much.
Five stars, for sure.
Series playlist: https://open.spotify.com/user/mylittl...
Do I even have words to describe this book? Let's try, shall we?
This book is incredible. I haven't had a book twist my mind into as many knots as this series did in a good long while. It took me longer than I expected to get through this book, but in looking back, I realize it's because I didn't want it to end. Genuinely. I already want to re-read it.
Things I want to say:
- Ella is an awesome protagonist. Flawed, but not beyond likeability. I love that she truly struggled with whether or not she wanted to be the hero.
- I may or may not be low-key in love with Ethan Sheedy.
- Avary and Reynolds are both simultaneously me. And I love it.
- Platonic love between friends is held as just as important and quest-worthy as romantic love.
- Sheedy is beautiful and perfect and everything i love.
- The Grifters are fascinating and I realized only three-quarters into this book that I was picturing them completely wrong, but here we are. Lol.
- Ella's from Florida as Adelaide is from Florida and as someone from Florida I appreciated all of those bits.
- Have I mentioned Sheedy?
Anyway, yes, this book is 100% worth the hype and I adored every second of it. This is going to be a series that I recommend to anyone and everyone, good grief. I loved it so much.
Five stars, for sure.
Series playlist: https://open.spotify.com/user/mylittl...
May 22, 2017
This story gripped me from the very beginning! The genre is right up my alley, I have always been a fan of supernatural stories with plenty of adventure and a sense of suspense and mystery! I have always considered the scariest of stories to be those in which the monster or the unknown lies within us. The main protagonist, Ella, suddenly awakens new powers and memories within herself and the reader embarks on her journey of self-discovery, trying to piece together clues which might explain why her body is changing, why these strange creatures called Grifters are threatening the fabric of her once normal existence and why her friend Kara has been kidnapped. Ella discovers she is not alone but a part of a secret society, she finds that nowhere is safe, not even within the recesses of her mind as these strange beings called Tacemus can even penetrate one's deepest thoughts and secrets. This novel is more that a supernatural, adventure story. It holds a deep, moral meaning which the reader discovers alongside Ella. The reason why the three parts of the novel are titled Black, White and Gray is because it truly relates to how Ella sees things. Kara describes her as "narrow-minded" at the very beginning and that proves to be her downfall and a reason why she has to suffer again and again until she has to find out and accept, the hard way, that things are not just black and white, that there is a middle ground, a gray area and as much as she hates being "in the middle", she discovers she must empathize and understand why those around her act the way they do. There is nuance in one's friends and foes and nothing is as it seems. Adelaide Thorne's characters have depth, they have a story and they are relate-able. They have deep, psychological and emotional reasons why they act the way they do. And we get to chip away at the surface and the masks and find out more, little by little, in a suspenseful, page-turning roller-coaster ride. The author is masterful at creating suspense but also at offering answers without spoon-feeding the reader. The story offers a lot of food for thought. I feel as if these characters will stay with me for a long time! I am highly anticipating the follow-up to this novel! (I received an ARC of "The Trace").
March 3, 2019
3.5/4 stars
It was really hard for me to read the first half of this book. I almost gave up reading it. *hides* The reason being is because I really disliked Ella. I know she was angry about certain situations and felt guilty, but I did not like how she handled things.
However, I'm really glad I continued reading because wow! There are some potent truths she learned that really spoke to my heart. She had an extremely touching transformation that opened my eyes to how we can stop hate. Not only that, I went from not being fully invested in her journey, to really wanting her to succeed in what she's called to do.
I was quite surprised how things unfolded concerning One and the Grifters. Both of those situations are what spoke to my heart the most. <3
Overall, a great read in what is sure to be an on edge sci-fi adventure trilogy!
It was really hard for me to read the first half of this book. I almost gave up reading it. *hides* The reason being is because I really disliked Ella. I know she was angry about certain situations and felt guilty, but I did not like how she handled things.
However, I'm really glad I continued reading because wow! There are some potent truths she learned that really spoke to my heart. She had an extremely touching transformation that opened my eyes to how we can stop hate. Not only that, I went from not being fully invested in her journey, to really wanting her to succeed in what she's called to do.
I was quite surprised how things unfolded concerning One and the Grifters. Both of those situations are what spoke to my heart the most. <3
Overall, a great read in what is sure to be an on edge sci-fi adventure trilogy!
January 30, 2019
This is, by far and large, a well-written and enjoyable read.
It hits the mark in many respects: character development, plot pacing, twists. There were a couple of areas where I felt disappointed, or where I think more development would have enhanced the story, so I can't say that this was a book that I loved, but it is one that will stay with me.
The main area that I felt was chaotic was the world building. This is the sort of book where the author has clearly defined the world and the various cultures abiding in it - the work has clearly been done. However, I didn't feel that these details were conveyed effectively to the reader. (Some of this is intentional on the part of the author - and I have no doubt that more will be revealed in subsequent books). I did find myself feeling largely lost as far as my understanding of the fictional universe goes for about three quarters of the book. It's really only in the final part (where some revelations come to light) that I started to feel I had a grasp of the world - and I'm still mystified by large swaths of it, and that is a disappointment.
Since this is the first installment in a series, I expected some unresolved matters, but I felt that too much was left dangling for this to be truly satisfying. I feel that this book just took on too much to be able to fully realise all the elements. Some characters didn't receive the treatment they deserve. There are numerous elements and backstories that are alluded to but never developed (I would expect a couple of these in a series, but I think this was too many, and I suspect the author will be featuring these in later books - the references are not subtle). I did find that some of the thematic material was repeated - I feel like there's room for some streamlining without sacrificing thematic development.
Still, the characters that are developed are done so very well and are compelling. The payoff in the final quarter is absolutely worth taking time to read the novel. This is a promising series, and I am likely to continue reading it.
I received a copy of this book through Voracious Readers Only.
It hits the mark in many respects: character development, plot pacing, twists. There were a couple of areas where I felt disappointed, or where I think more development would have enhanced the story, so I can't say that this was a book that I loved, but it is one that will stay with me.
The main area that I felt was chaotic was the world building. This is the sort of book where the author has clearly defined the world and the various cultures abiding in it - the work has clearly been done. However, I didn't feel that these details were conveyed effectively to the reader. (Some of this is intentional on the part of the author - and I have no doubt that more will be revealed in subsequent books). I did find myself feeling largely lost as far as my understanding of the fictional universe goes for about three quarters of the book. It's really only in the final part (where some revelations come to light) that I started to feel I had a grasp of the world - and I'm still mystified by large swaths of it, and that is a disappointment.
Since this is the first installment in a series, I expected some unresolved matters, but I felt that too much was left dangling for this to be truly satisfying. I feel that this book just took on too much to be able to fully realise all the elements. Some characters didn't receive the treatment they deserve. There are numerous elements and backstories that are alluded to but never developed (I would expect a couple of these in a series, but I think this was too many, and I suspect the author will be featuring these in later books - the references are not subtle). I did find that some of the thematic material was repeated - I feel like there's room for some streamlining without sacrificing thematic development.
Still, the characters that are developed are done so very well and are compelling. The payoff in the final quarter is absolutely worth taking time to read the novel. This is a promising series, and I am likely to continue reading it.
I received a copy of this book through Voracious Readers Only.
October 4, 2017
(I was given an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review)
The Trace by Adelaide Thorne is a Young Adult novel with some light elements of science fiction. The book follows Ella Kepler, an awkward teenager who is transformed from the last pick in every P.E. class to an Olympic gymnast overnight. Add in some stalking monsters and suspicious men-in-black spying on her and you have an intriguing beginning.
I don't want to ruin too much of the book, so I'll refrain from giving away more of the plot than that. Still, here are some of the pros/cons of the book as I see it.
Pros
Cons
Overall, I really enjoyed the book and suggest it to anyone who likes Young Adult books, especially urban fantasy/dystopian books like The Hunger Games, Divergent, The Mortal Instruments, etc. I hope that I get selected as an advanced reader for book 2!
The Trace by Adelaide Thorne is a Young Adult novel with some light elements of science fiction. The book follows Ella Kepler, an awkward teenager who is transformed from the last pick in every P.E. class to an Olympic gymnast overnight. Add in some stalking monsters and suspicious men-in-black spying on her and you have an intriguing beginning.
I don't want to ruin too much of the book, so I'll refrain from giving away more of the plot than that. Still, here are some of the pros/cons of the book as I see it.
Pros
1) Interesting metahuman abilities and advanced technology. Telepathy, Telekinesis, Enhanced speed/strength? Snipers that use their telekinesis for greater range and accuracy? Self-driving motorcycles that can travel at super-sonic speeds? Check, check, and check!
2) Realistic and quirky main character. She doesn't hate her parents or spend all day talking about how much she hates school. She knows when to focus on the task at hand. You won't see Ella Kepler having a romantic interaction while her friends are pummeled in the background, which is good!
3) Unexpected twists. Of course, you might be able to anticipate one or two twists now that I've mentioned it, but I think you'll be surprised by at least one or two others. The twists do not seem to come out of left-field. You can tell the author considered the twists throughout the story and incorporated small hints to tip off the more observant readers.
4) Good portrayal of morals and how war tends to skew them. I won't say any more in order to avoid spoilers :)
5) Cliffhanger at the end of the book definitely hooks you :)
Cons
1) The book tends to move a little slow at the beginning. This is not necessarily a con, and it is not overly slow, but I think it could be off-putting to some readers.
2) I hesitate to put this in the cons section, since I think it actually works well. Still, I know that a lot of readers will be surprised by this, so I figured I'd include it. Ella is not like every other female protagonist. She isn't stronger than all of her male counterparts and better than everyone in the book. She gets scared, she can be naïve, and she often relies on others. I see these as strengths for her character, but some readers may not like her for these reasons.
3) A few plot elements (e.g. "EN", ) do not have a real conclusion in this book. I assume these things will be address in Books 2 and 3.
Overall, I really enjoyed the book and suggest it to anyone who likes Young Adult books, especially urban fantasy/dystopian books like The Hunger Games, Divergent, The Mortal Instruments, etc. I hope that I get selected as an advanced reader for book 2!
May 19, 2017
I loved reading this book! Very quick read too (although, I'm a fast reader in general.. but I was thinking of reading the book while doing other things and couldn't wait to get back to it), finished it in a little less than a week.
It's based in modern times and about a girl, Ella, pulled from regular life and thrust into a secret government "Academy" for super-humans fighting "Grifters" (which are also 'human-like' but creepy looking and way stronger). I enjoyed reading Ella's growth of character throughout the book as she learns to see not only things from her point of view, but realizing there is another side to every story. While she hones her skills, she learns that not everything she originally believed was correct (super vague but I don't want to put any spoilers!).
There is also not an annoying love triangle like every other YA book on the market so that's always a plus!
(I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review)
It's based in modern times and about a girl, Ella, pulled from regular life and thrust into a secret government "Academy" for super-humans fighting "Grifters" (which are also 'human-like' but creepy looking and way stronger). I enjoyed reading Ella's growth of character throughout the book as she learns to see not only things from her point of view, but realizing there is another side to every story. While she hones her skills, she learns that not everything she originally believed was correct (super vague but I don't want to put any spoilers!).
There is also not an annoying love triangle like every other YA book on the market so that's always a plus!
(I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review)
June 28, 2019
I honestly wasn’t too sure what I’d be getting with “The Trace” and it’s Metahumans—a group of people with some X-men like vibes with their superpowers—and the Grifters—disgusting looking creatures who are morally opposed to the good guys. I wasn’t sure where a story like this would take place that would make it suspenseful or exciting. But Thorne delivers so many wonderful surprises that I was enthralled and excited and entertained and any other positive E word you want to add in there. We follow young Ella Kepler, normal high school girl one day, the next? She discovers she’s a metahuman and has super speed and strength, and the Grifters want her for reasons she doesn’t understand. Whisked away when the Grifters attack her home, Ella is told the truth about who she is, what she can do, and introduced to a secret society of sorts right under her nose that’s raging a war against the Grifters to keep humans safe. How cool is that? This book has so many enthralling (ha, there’s another E word for you) moments alongside its secrets, that I was hard pressed to put this book down and pick up others for book reviewing purposes!
This book has a lot of fun action, but the character banter between Ella and her best friend Kara, and Ella and her new found protector, Ethan, is just as fun. The mystery of what’s happening is teased early and well to where the reader always feels just a step away from all the answers, only to discover something else, something vital, is still missing. Thorne masterfully teases out the secrets, so when the twists come—of which there are a few throughout the story—they feel like a REAL twist, not one of those twists that simply has to be done because the author has accidentally written themselves into a corner. I LOVED that about this book because those kinds of twists are so hard to do, and when they are done well, I find them to be incredibly satisfying.
While the vast majority of the book is kind of like a training montage for Ella, I liked that she wasn’t immediately the most amazing metahuman there was. It felt real and made watching Ella grow and get better all the more realistic. Plus, it allows the author to explore the conflict between the metahumans and the Grifters, teasing out the reasons WHY they fight and that perhaps everyone has been wrong the whole time. It’s wonderfully done without feeling preachy, and helps enhance the mystery around both of these groups that operate in the shadow of the general population. But, even with all the exciting action, and mysteries, and fight scenes, I must say that watching Ella grow and overcome the tremendous hurdles thrown at her was a real treat. So if you like some complex character development alongside your action and secret societies, this is going to be a fun ride for you.
The only thing I found a tad frustrating about the story is that Ella has one goal pretty much the entire time she’s at the academy learning about her new strengths and abilities, and that goal isn’t really accomplished come the end of the book. I’m being vague on purpose because knowing any of the details around that is super spoiler-y. Ella learns a ton that complicates her goal, that raises the stakes with accomplishing what she is driven to do, so I won’t say it’s a letdown, but it did feel a bit dragged out, especially at the end with the cliffhanger and the final surprises about who is behind all of Ella’s troubles. Which, the cliffhanger, oh lord! It’s the good kind of cliffhanger, one that makes you nervous and excited and race out to get the next book immediately, so don’t worry, but I did want more of that original goal to feel wrapped up, instead of feeling even farther away. But even with that, I so enjoyed this urban fantasy, and it’s touches of science fiction, along with all the twists and turns the author threw my way, that I’d be remiss to give this story anything less than 5 stars! I’m so happy I won this book as a giveaway, and am kicking myself that I didn’t read it sooner, it was so good!
This book has a lot of fun action, but the character banter between Ella and her best friend Kara, and Ella and her new found protector, Ethan, is just as fun. The mystery of what’s happening is teased early and well to where the reader always feels just a step away from all the answers, only to discover something else, something vital, is still missing. Thorne masterfully teases out the secrets, so when the twists come—of which there are a few throughout the story—they feel like a REAL twist, not one of those twists that simply has to be done because the author has accidentally written themselves into a corner. I LOVED that about this book because those kinds of twists are so hard to do, and when they are done well, I find them to be incredibly satisfying.
While the vast majority of the book is kind of like a training montage for Ella, I liked that she wasn’t immediately the most amazing metahuman there was. It felt real and made watching Ella grow and get better all the more realistic. Plus, it allows the author to explore the conflict between the metahumans and the Grifters, teasing out the reasons WHY they fight and that perhaps everyone has been wrong the whole time. It’s wonderfully done without feeling preachy, and helps enhance the mystery around both of these groups that operate in the shadow of the general population. But, even with all the exciting action, and mysteries, and fight scenes, I must say that watching Ella grow and overcome the tremendous hurdles thrown at her was a real treat. So if you like some complex character development alongside your action and secret societies, this is going to be a fun ride for you.
The only thing I found a tad frustrating about the story is that Ella has one goal pretty much the entire time she’s at the academy learning about her new strengths and abilities, and that goal isn’t really accomplished come the end of the book. I’m being vague on purpose because knowing any of the details around that is super spoiler-y. Ella learns a ton that complicates her goal, that raises the stakes with accomplishing what she is driven to do, so I won’t say it’s a letdown, but it did feel a bit dragged out, especially at the end with the cliffhanger and the final surprises about who is behind all of Ella’s troubles. Which, the cliffhanger, oh lord! It’s the good kind of cliffhanger, one that makes you nervous and excited and race out to get the next book immediately, so don’t worry, but I did want more of that original goal to feel wrapped up, instead of feeling even farther away. But even with that, I so enjoyed this urban fantasy, and it’s touches of science fiction, along with all the twists and turns the author threw my way, that I’d be remiss to give this story anything less than 5 stars! I’m so happy I won this book as a giveaway, and am kicking myself that I didn’t read it sooner, it was so good!
December 17, 2018
Ella Kepler senses things and sees and hears things that should be worrying but for some reason she’s calm. People have been watching her, but she’s not overly freaking out. Then mysterious changes happen. She wonders why this is happening when suddenly she’s at the MTA. And things get explained - she has powers. What? There’s a war going on. What? They don’t feel pain and they are stupid. Huh?
Ella’s been ignorant of this stuff for 18 years. Where most of the cadets have been training since they’ve been born.
She’s whisked to safety and is staying until the Grifters move on.... only they kidnap her best friend instead and don’t move on... what is she to do? She trains and goes to save her.
But what happens isn’t what you think would. Things aren’t as they seem.
The Trace’s world is cunning and big and adventurous. It’s hard to put down and is easy to get lost in and trying figure out what’s going on. Who’s right and who’s wrong? What will happen next? It’s heart wrenchingly good. You can’t help but feel for Ella and if you have a best friend, it’s not hard to feel how worried and stressed she is about getting Kara back.
Wonderfully written. Now I gotta look into getting the next one. So good.
Ella’s been ignorant of this stuff for 18 years. Where most of the cadets have been training since they’ve been born.
She’s whisked to safety and is staying until the Grifters move on.... only they kidnap her best friend instead and don’t move on... what is she to do? She trains and goes to save her.
But what happens isn’t what you think would. Things aren’t as they seem.
The Trace’s world is cunning and big and adventurous. It’s hard to put down and is easy to get lost in and trying figure out what’s going on. Who’s right and who’s wrong? What will happen next? It’s heart wrenchingly good. You can’t help but feel for Ella and if you have a best friend, it’s not hard to feel how worried and stressed she is about getting Kara back.
Wonderfully written. Now I gotta look into getting the next one. So good.
May 19, 2017
I wasn’t sure what to expect with this trilogy since I usually read contemporary mystery/suspense/thriller types. Sci-Fi is a little out of my comfort zone but I was intrigued by the description and I was given an ARC for my honest review. I’m glad I took the plunge into Sci-Fi. I was drawn in almost immediately. Those elements that I love about mystery/suspense are all here and kept me turning the pages to the end. The suspense comes from figuring out, alongside Ella, what is happening to her, her surroundings and the people she loves. Her search for her best friend leads her deeper into another reality of strange and cruel creatures who seem to know more about her than she knows about herself. . . and they want her dead. As the danger and cruelty of her adversary mounts, Ella doesn’t know where to turn or who to trust. It kept me guessing to the end.
January 3, 2019
I recently received a complimentary copy of The Trace from Voracious Readers Only. I’ve never received a free copy of a book before, so I was a little hesitant in the beginning. However, this book absolutely blew me away, it instantly dragged me in hook, line and sinker. From the very first page, I had to know what was happening! My curiosity and need to know more only grew with every page I turned. This book is a rare gem and I can’t wait to get stuck into the next one! I look forward to reading more from Adelaide Thorne in the future. Highly recommend!!!
May 25, 2018
Wow! This book is phenomenal. I didn’t want to put it down and would have finished in a couple days if time had allowed. The plot was excellent, the characters rich and detailed, and just when I didn’t think there could possibly be another twist or turn, there was! I absolutely can’t wait for the next book.
May 29, 2019
90% of the time I can predict how a story is going to go. With The Trace, I had no idea. There were so many possibilities and theories that my brain was coming up with but in the end I was still surprised! Adelaide Thorne does a tremendous job of engrossing the reader into her Sci-Fi world and keeps you hungry for more.
The tale is about a high-school student Ella who finds out she is different than everyone else. She is a Metahuman who has to leave the world she knows behind. She is reluctant until her best friend Kara is kidnapped by the enemy known as the Grifters. Determined to save her friend, Ella trains with the MTA to develop her knew abilities and rescue Kara.
When I first started reading the book, I was immediately intrigued. Something told me I was going to like this book by the end of it, but the voice didn’t tell me I would absolutely LOVE it! It was a gradual process. Granted, I felt it was a little slow in the beginning but my interest was still held. However, it was Part 3 of the novel that really pulled me in. Not to mention that mean but incredible cliffhanger at the end. Not what I was expecting and I loved it. I am left with so many unanswered questions which, in my opinion, is the best way to end the first book of a trilogy.
Thorne’s writing style is exceptional. Everything from her descriptions to her dialogue is composed incredibly well. I am so picky when it comes to descriptions especially. I get bored easily if things are too descriptive. While everything was written descriptively, it was concise, effective, and well done. Also, the way the story is told from Ella’s point of view gives the reader a closer connection to the character. Another honesty point from me: I am not a huge fan of female protagonists. However, Ella is a girl I could totally standy by! She was relatable, real, and a human person with emotions. Sometimes you want her to take a chill pill, but I’m literally the same way sometimes. xD
The only thing that confused me were the other agents who would interact with Ella daily. There weren’t too many, but I had a hard time remembering who was who (not that I should be talking, I do much worse). By the end I was able to recall who was important and who wasn’t.
In the end, 5/5 stars no doubt for Adelaide Thorne’s first installment of her Whitewashed Trilogy! I am speaking 100% honestly here, I’ve never had a true single author who was my Sci-Fi inspiration. Now, I’ve found her. Thorne is one I look up to and aspire to be like. I’ve never been more blessed to have an inspiration (and friend) such as Adelaide Thorne.
Can’t wait for book 2, The Integer!
The tale is about a high-school student Ella who finds out she is different than everyone else. She is a Metahuman who has to leave the world she knows behind. She is reluctant until her best friend Kara is kidnapped by the enemy known as the Grifters. Determined to save her friend, Ella trains with the MTA to develop her knew abilities and rescue Kara.
When I first started reading the book, I was immediately intrigued. Something told me I was going to like this book by the end of it, but the voice didn’t tell me I would absolutely LOVE it! It was a gradual process. Granted, I felt it was a little slow in the beginning but my interest was still held. However, it was Part 3 of the novel that really pulled me in. Not to mention that mean but incredible cliffhanger at the end. Not what I was expecting and I loved it. I am left with so many unanswered questions which, in my opinion, is the best way to end the first book of a trilogy.
Thorne’s writing style is exceptional. Everything from her descriptions to her dialogue is composed incredibly well. I am so picky when it comes to descriptions especially. I get bored easily if things are too descriptive. While everything was written descriptively, it was concise, effective, and well done. Also, the way the story is told from Ella’s point of view gives the reader a closer connection to the character. Another honesty point from me: I am not a huge fan of female protagonists. However, Ella is a girl I could totally standy by! She was relatable, real, and a human person with emotions. Sometimes you want her to take a chill pill, but I’m literally the same way sometimes. xD
The only thing that confused me were the other agents who would interact with Ella daily. There weren’t too many, but I had a hard time remembering who was who (not that I should be talking, I do much worse). By the end I was able to recall who was important and who wasn’t.
In the end, 5/5 stars no doubt for Adelaide Thorne’s first installment of her Whitewashed Trilogy! I am speaking 100% honestly here, I’ve never had a true single author who was my Sci-Fi inspiration. Now, I’ve found her. Thorne is one I look up to and aspire to be like. I’ve never been more blessed to have an inspiration (and friend) such as Adelaide Thorne.
Can’t wait for book 2, The Integer!
April 5, 2019
I read this book as part of an experiment for the author, where I read books one and two out of published order. Thus reading most of The Integer first.
Reading the books out of order did not impact my ability to understand what was happening, but I'll admit that it might have decreased my enjoyment of this book. Some of the world building wasn't as fun to dive into because I already had that information from reading Integer, and Ella seemed to work backward in character growth (I mean, duh). However, I did feel that Ella's training, which had seemed drawn out in The Integer, was even more so in this story, thus the three stars.
Still, there are other reasons why I am glad that I read the books in the order that I did. Reasons which may or may not spoil the story, so I will only share one of them. And that one is Ethan. After reading the books in the order that I did, I feel that I had a much greater appreciation for Ethan throughout as opposed to only learn just how awesome he is in book two. But maybe, you as a reader will prefer to learn that information in the order the story was originally told.
Reading the books out of order did not impact my ability to understand what was happening, but I'll admit that it might have decreased my enjoyment of this book. Some of the world building wasn't as fun to dive into because I already had that information from reading Integer, and Ella seemed to work backward in character growth (I mean, duh). However, I did feel that Ella's training, which had seemed drawn out in The Integer, was even more so in this story, thus the three stars.
Still, there are other reasons why I am glad that I read the books in the order that I did. Reasons which may or may not spoil the story, so I will only share one of them. And that one is Ethan. After reading the books in the order that I did, I feel that I had a much greater appreciation for Ethan throughout as opposed to only learn just how awesome he is in book two. But maybe, you as a reader will prefer to learn that information in the order the story was originally told.
September 15, 2018
I had been fumbling to find a good book for awhile, one that sucked me in and kept me up all hours of the night... And then I started reading The Trace and couldn't put it down! Thorne is a wonderful story teller and weaved Ella's tale in such a way that I was in suspense nearly the entire time. Even now that I've finished I'm dying to read the second one to figure more things out! When you aren't in the throes of mystery, you are battling the inner darkness of Ella as she struggles to rise above the tide of anger buried in her heart. I loved the overarching theme of forgiveness and love found within a YA sci-fi novel, which is pretty uncommon these days. I highly recommend this book!
October 9, 2018
I loved this! The sequel can’t come soon enough.
July 29, 2019
WHERE DO I EVEN BEGIN?!?!? The most accurate description I can use to convey my feelings is a lot of gasping, sobbing, not breathing, awwwwwing, laughing, screaming, and wild fangirling. In a word, obsessed. Forever. 😍
First, imma gush, then I'll talk about The Trace individually.
Adelaide Thorne is now one of my favorite authors of all time, and her books are some of my all time favorites. Yes, I just read them. No, my mind will never change. This is not a passing phase. I am in love, and forever will be.
This is the story of metahumans and their war with the strange grey monsters known as Grifters. This is the story of a girl who takes responsibility and guilt for things she has no control over, yet does whatever she can to make things right; a boy who does the right thing no matter what, and has to learn what emotions even are; and an enemy that will blow your mind...literally. I didn't know what to expect, but this series has touched my heart in ways I never dreamed.
Please, do yourself a favor and get these books. Now. (Also Ethan Sheedy is the best thing since sliced bread. Jus' sayin'. You maybe have heard the hype? Oh honey. He's even better than anything you've heard!)
THE TRACE!
It's starts a teensy bit slow - but not really. Like, it's not pulse pounding, but it's compelling and draws you in, and then BANG! You get to a point where you can't breathe and you just have to keep reading and reading and reading until GIANT CLIFF HANGER and oh yay, grab book 2. If you haven't bought The Integer yet, you just made a serious mistake, because that cliff hanger is KILLER OKAY?!
The Trace is a beginning of sorts for Ella Kepler. And if you are wondering why I phrased it that way...read the books. She is thrown into a world where it seems she belongs, but it's utterly foreign to her mind. She makes friends, she makes enemies - but most importantly, she learns that not everything is black and white. Not everything is as it seems.
I loved her arc in this book. She has to deal with so many emotions, such as anger, guilt, and revenge, and /wow/. It's done so well, and personally I was extremely blessed by it. So many books nowadays have little or no life lessons taught any more, but this book? Masterfully done. I felt like I was reading the stories of old - where you read a book, not just for the epic plot and deep, beautiful characters, but also for the lessons and morals, the stories that shape your character and taught you to be a better person.
There are seriously no cliche characters, and I daresay there's not a single cliche in this entire book. The relationships are AMAZING! Ella's friendship with Kara is seriously #goals. Her sweetness in looking after and going out of her way to be kind to the shy, awkward Avary made me tear up at times. And her relationship/friendship with Ethan...my gosh people.
For once, we get a male lead who isn't dark and emo for the sake of it; who doesn't bend the rules just because he can, and it's "super dashing" when he does so; who doesn't make all the girls swoon and knows it; blah blah blah. No. Black haired, blue eyed Ethan Sheedy shatters that mold. He's almost robotic, but...not quite. He does the right thing. He's sweet and kind and thoughtful, but not for what he can get out of it. He's a natural leader, and he takes responsibility so seriously. Lying, cheating, cutting corners - they are foreign to him. He's a bit snarky, but I don't think he even realizes it. Have I fallen for him? Absolutely. It's the type of character you dream about but never get...and for once, HE EXISTS!
I could go on about this book, but then I'd enter SPOILER TERRITORY and who likes to read a review like that? So I'll shut up and go gush about The Integer. Adelaide, thank you. So much. This story and this book and this series and these characters have changed me FOREVER. Thank you. 💙
First, imma gush, then I'll talk about The Trace individually.
Adelaide Thorne is now one of my favorite authors of all time, and her books are some of my all time favorites. Yes, I just read them. No, my mind will never change. This is not a passing phase. I am in love, and forever will be.
This is the story of metahumans and their war with the strange grey monsters known as Grifters. This is the story of a girl who takes responsibility and guilt for things she has no control over, yet does whatever she can to make things right; a boy who does the right thing no matter what, and has to learn what emotions even are; and an enemy that will blow your mind...literally. I didn't know what to expect, but this series has touched my heart in ways I never dreamed.
Please, do yourself a favor and get these books. Now. (Also Ethan Sheedy is the best thing since sliced bread. Jus' sayin'. You maybe have heard the hype? Oh honey. He's even better than anything you've heard!)
THE TRACE!
It's starts a teensy bit slow - but not really. Like, it's not pulse pounding, but it's compelling and draws you in, and then BANG! You get to a point where you can't breathe and you just have to keep reading and reading and reading until GIANT CLIFF HANGER and oh yay, grab book 2. If you haven't bought The Integer yet, you just made a serious mistake, because that cliff hanger is KILLER OKAY?!
The Trace is a beginning of sorts for Ella Kepler. And if you are wondering why I phrased it that way...read the books. She is thrown into a world where it seems she belongs, but it's utterly foreign to her mind. She makes friends, she makes enemies - but most importantly, she learns that not everything is black and white. Not everything is as it seems.
I loved her arc in this book. She has to deal with so many emotions, such as anger, guilt, and revenge, and /wow/. It's done so well, and personally I was extremely blessed by it. So many books nowadays have little or no life lessons taught any more, but this book? Masterfully done. I felt like I was reading the stories of old - where you read a book, not just for the epic plot and deep, beautiful characters, but also for the lessons and morals, the stories that shape your character and taught you to be a better person.
There are seriously no cliche characters, and I daresay there's not a single cliche in this entire book. The relationships are AMAZING! Ella's friendship with Kara is seriously #goals. Her sweetness in looking after and going out of her way to be kind to the shy, awkward Avary made me tear up at times. And her relationship/friendship with Ethan...my gosh people.
For once, we get a male lead who isn't dark and emo for the sake of it; who doesn't bend the rules just because he can, and it's "super dashing" when he does so; who doesn't make all the girls swoon and knows it; blah blah blah. No. Black haired, blue eyed Ethan Sheedy shatters that mold. He's almost robotic, but...not quite. He does the right thing. He's sweet and kind and thoughtful, but not for what he can get out of it. He's a natural leader, and he takes responsibility so seriously. Lying, cheating, cutting corners - they are foreign to him. He's a bit snarky, but I don't think he even realizes it. Have I fallen for him? Absolutely. It's the type of character you dream about but never get...and for once, HE EXISTS!
I could go on about this book, but then I'd enter SPOILER TERRITORY and who likes to read a review like that? So I'll shut up and go gush about The Integer. Adelaide, thank you. So much. This story and this book and this series and these characters have changed me FOREVER. Thank you. 💙
September 1, 2019
The beginning of this was intriguing. So much mystery, so many questions! I needed answers! And, as expected, I didn't get all of them. Guess I have to keep reading. 😉
The characters are solid with a good variety. I liked Ella overall, although she sometimes seemed slightly slow on the uptake. She needs to watch and read more sci-if, haha. And pay more attention, Kepler!
There's some good exploration of prejudice, assumptions, empathy, and other philosophical and moral issues.
The middle dragged for me, but mostly because I had a major personality conflict with the middle of this book that resulted in much glaring at my Kindle. Lemme explain.
Things I can't stand IRL:
-Inefficient and nonsense rules
-Authority figures who have done nothing to earn my respect and loyalty
-Brainwashed answers
-People NoT cOmMuNicaTiNG (probably due to nonsense rules)
-People blindly believing everything they are told
-Faulty reasoning
-Did I mention nonsense rules?
Let's just say...I would have blown the MTA up. 😆
There also was a lot of basically "Ella getting therapy." Which she needed, and some of which was good points, but...I occasionally got impatient.
My biggest qualm and a thing that was making me SUPER frustrated though the middle of the book is a big old honking spoiler because it gets resolved/explained about...2/3 or 3/4 of the way through, and it made me SO happy.
Talk about cliffhangers. Excited to see where this goes!
The characters are solid with a good variety. I liked Ella overall, although she sometimes seemed slightly slow on the uptake. She needs to watch and read more sci-if, haha. And pay more attention, Kepler!
There's some good exploration of prejudice, assumptions, empathy, and other philosophical and moral issues.
The middle dragged for me, but mostly because I had a major personality conflict with the middle of this book that resulted in much glaring at my Kindle. Lemme explain.
Things I can't stand IRL:
-Inefficient and nonsense rules
-Authority figures who have done nothing to earn my respect and loyalty
-Brainwashed answers
-People NoT cOmMuNicaTiNG (probably due to nonsense rules)
-People blindly believing everything they are told
-Faulty reasoning
-Did I mention nonsense rules?
Let's just say...I would have blown the MTA up. 😆
There also was a lot of basically "Ella getting therapy." Which she needed, and some of which was good points, but...I occasionally got impatient.
My biggest qualm and a thing that was making me SUPER frustrated though the middle of the book is a big old honking spoiler because it gets resolved/explained about...2/3 or 3/4 of the way through, and it made me SO happy.
Talk about cliffhangers. Excited to see where this goes!
July 16, 2017
I read this book because a close friend recommended it. I had my doubts because I am not much of Sci-Fi reader as I prefer non fiction books over fiction. This book was a pleasant surprise because of how the author was able to keep your attention during the story as the plot continued to develop. The story was not as predictable as I thought it was going to be which made it an enjoyable read.
My only complaint about the book was that at times I had a difficult time with knowing which character was which because some characters were referred to by more than one name (I only had to do a double take a couple of times with this though). Also I wasn't sure who had certain abilities and who didn't. But that may have been my error for not paying attention to details. Once I figured it out it all made sense. I would have given 4.5/5 stars because of this but that option is not available. Also my confusion may have been more of a reader error than author error as I am not familiar with these types of books .
Having said that I am looking forward to the 2nd installment of this series because the storyline was that good!
My only complaint about the book was that at times I had a difficult time with knowing which character was which because some characters were referred to by more than one name (I only had to do a double take a couple of times with this though). Also I wasn't sure who had certain abilities and who didn't. But that may have been my error for not paying attention to details. Once I figured it out it all made sense. I would have given 4.5/5 stars because of this but that option is not available. Also my confusion may have been more of a reader error than author error as I am not familiar with these types of books .
Having said that I am looking forward to the 2nd installment of this series because the storyline was that good!
May 21, 2017
Absolutely loved this book and being one of the first to have the opportunity to read it since I was given the ARC for writing an honest review! Normally I am drawn to books with female protagonists but it is incredibly refreshing to get a flawed main character that can’t simply will her way out of her troubles with only the flip of her hair and a pretty face. The characters felt so realistic and the Ethella love story was completely amaziiinggg, cannot wait for more of it in book two! As far as the plot goes, it keeps you guessing at every turn and each cliff hanger just makes you want to stay up all night to find out what happens next (totally pulled an all nighter addicted to this book - WORTH IT). I don’t want to give too much away but totally check it out, sooo worth the time and the roller coaster ride of emotions!
May 19, 2017
I'm a tough critic, so I was delighted to receive an ARC to review the book. I reserve 5 stars for life-altering books, but I will say this was an honest 4.
What I liked:
It's got everything: conspiracies, fights (good taste, not gratuitous), logic, and tension. The author doesn't shy away from shocking subjects, but treats them with due respect. Great sensory details are provided so you can paint a picture in your mind of exactly what's happening. Plot ends on a great stopping point... a real hook!
What I did not like:
It's told from the vantage point of a young lady who doesn't make the decisions that a guy would make and that's frustrating at times. I also felt one scene could have been cut to help make the book flow faster in the beginning. But but the speed is never excruciatingly slow, and at times, the book is hard to put down.
Overall: It is a definite "recommend" even if Young Adult Sci-Fi isn't your thing. I will be pre-ordering Book 2 to be one of the first people to find out what happens next.
What I liked:
It's got everything: conspiracies, fights (good taste, not gratuitous), logic, and tension. The author doesn't shy away from shocking subjects, but treats them with due respect. Great sensory details are provided so you can paint a picture in your mind of exactly what's happening. Plot ends on a great stopping point... a real hook!
What I did not like:
It's told from the vantage point of a young lady who doesn't make the decisions that a guy would make and that's frustrating at times. I also felt one scene could have been cut to help make the book flow faster in the beginning. But but the speed is never excruciatingly slow, and at times, the book is hard to put down.
Overall: It is a definite "recommend" even if Young Adult Sci-Fi isn't your thing. I will be pre-ordering Book 2 to be one of the first people to find out what happens next.
September 15, 2019
I have heard all kinds of great things about this book, so I decided to ask the author for a copy! Let me tell you, all the hype was correct! This book was AMAZING!!! It was suspenseful and it grabbed my attention from the start. I’m still stunned by the ending.😳 I LOVED this book and would recommend it to anyone!!
A big thank you to the author for sending me a review copy! She is the sweetest! All thoughts were me own.
A big thank you to the author for sending me a review copy! She is the sweetest! All thoughts were me own.
June 10, 2021
I received a complimentary copy of the book through vivacious reads from the author.
This is a great teen/Sci fy read that teaches us about compassion for all.
This book had me captivated from the start. I loved the way Ella developed.
I will be reading the next installment ASAP.
This is a great teen/Sci fy read that teaches us about compassion for all.
This book had me captivated from the start. I loved the way Ella developed.
I will be reading the next installment ASAP.
December 8, 2019
My mind is blown. I'm still not sure I even know and understand everything that happened in the last 75%! Looking forward to book 2, and possibly a reread of book 1 ASAP.
August 25, 2019
4.5 stars. Review pending.
Read
February 24, 2021I am going to reserve my rating on this until I read the next one. What just happened in this book? Absolutely nothing until about the last 40-50 pages, and then everything hit the fan and I don't know what I'm supposed to think. I cannot recommend this book on its own. It was so dry and there were way too many question with no answers. Even when some answers came, they appeared to be totally unrelated to anything. I can't even figure what the title is referring to--certainly no clues given in the text...Anyway, I'm willing to read the second one to see if there is a bigger picture worth talking about, but I can't imagine slogging through this first one again, even if the next 2 are amazing.
lost-interest-dnf
June 13, 2022DNF @40%
August 22, 2022
It's a difficult one to rate, but make that an averaged 3.5 stars. I had seriously mixed feelings while reading this book. Before 50%, I was convinced I should give up. Getting past 70% however and hello story-line. It took a long time coming, but it's quite a rabbit to pull out of the hat. At first I felt the Divergent vibes, and while they do linger, it's that point where story takes over from characters that drew me in and made me want to know more.
The low-down: girl has weird dream, has sudden spurt of superpower abilities explored at length though everyday events in school, then just as her best friend gets kidnapped she gets whisked away to a secret facility for people just like her. Except they're not; even if she's unusually good, they're better. She trains alongside cute boy and mean girl, learns about the hidden world of super-human Academists, their telepathic clone-servants the Tacemus, and their nemesis race known as the Grifters (scary super-powered humanoids with NO FACES, just... gouges. Eek.)
Then everything she thought she knew, even after having been rewritten once before, gets flipped on it's head again. It's that again section that makes this book a mystery worth solving.
My problem with that first 50%? It can be dull. The characters don't have anything greatly defining, their relationships don't quite add up, and the action is either way too fast or way. Too. Slow. Then there's the sudden influx of named side characters who I barely had time to register let alone come to terms with who they were or what physical/mental trait set them apart. How could it have been better? I needed to know Ella more; she just appeared sans backstory and suddenly I'm supposed to care that her friend's in trouble and to believe that the hot-but-weird boy in their class is their friend when there's zero chemistry between any of them. I know, there's likely a point to this given the who-can-you-trust themes of the book, but it just stayed a little too mysterious to be really satisfying.
So why keep reading? It's a very readable style. Any romantic antics are very low-key and develop naturally without the usual angsting or swooning that characterises young adult books. While I cite Divergent as the mood, Ethan Sheedy is no grouchy-but-amazing Four, and Ella's not your usual Little Miss Perfect Rebel heroine. I would liked to have seen some more defining traits amoungst the main cast as at times they can seem a bit featureless, but the narrative picks up the slack. And once it gets going, boy do those last few chapters fly by.
While at first I thought I'd give up on the book due to that janky pacing in the first half, I would certainly want to read more of the series now. There are wibbly-wobbly-timey-wimey questions that need answers that are hinted at in that cleverly executed hook at the end.
-I received a fee copy of this ebook in a giveaway-
The low-down: girl has weird dream, has sudden spurt of superpower abilities explored at length though everyday events in school, then just as her best friend gets kidnapped she gets whisked away to a secret facility for people just like her. Except they're not; even if she's unusually good, they're better. She trains alongside cute boy and mean girl, learns about the hidden world of super-human Academists, their telepathic clone-servants the Tacemus, and their nemesis race known as the Grifters (scary super-powered humanoids with NO FACES, just... gouges. Eek.)
Then everything she thought she knew, even after having been rewritten once before, gets flipped on it's head again. It's that again section that makes this book a mystery worth solving.
My problem with that first 50%? It can be dull. The characters don't have anything greatly defining, their relationships don't quite add up, and the action is either way too fast or way. Too. Slow. Then there's the sudden influx of named side characters who I barely had time to register let alone come to terms with who they were or what physical/mental trait set them apart. How could it have been better? I needed to know Ella more; she just appeared sans backstory and suddenly I'm supposed to care that her friend's in trouble and to believe that the hot-but-weird boy in their class is their friend when there's zero chemistry between any of them. I know, there's likely a point to this given the who-can-you-trust themes of the book, but it just stayed a little too mysterious to be really satisfying.
So why keep reading? It's a very readable style. Any romantic antics are very low-key and develop naturally without the usual angsting or swooning that characterises young adult books. While I cite Divergent as the mood, Ethan Sheedy is no grouchy-but-amazing Four, and Ella's not your usual Little Miss Perfect Rebel heroine. I would liked to have seen some more defining traits amoungst the main cast as at times they can seem a bit featureless, but the narrative picks up the slack. And once it gets going, boy do those last few chapters fly by.
While at first I thought I'd give up on the book due to that janky pacing in the first half, I would certainly want to read more of the series now. There are wibbly-wobbly-timey-wimey questions that need answers that are hinted at in that cleverly executed hook at the end.
-I received a fee copy of this ebook in a giveaway-
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