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Impervious
Trina Warren didn’t think she was going to be a hero. She thought she was going to go to fourth period, hopefully avoiding any more hassle from the jocks about dropping their plates at her waitressing job the night before. Then there was a bang, and an overturned chair, and everything was different.
Now Trina finds herself in a fantasy world, pursued by a faceless, nameless monster that only she can stop. But she doesn’t know how to stop it, she doesn’t have any weapons, and her only clue is the necklace that arrived in a mysterious package that morning, with no return address and a cryptic note inside. She must navigate an unfamiliar world full of monsters, magic, and danger if she is to defeat the mysterious Soulless One and save her friends. And herself.
Now Trina finds herself in a fantasy world, pursued by a faceless, nameless monster that only she can stop. But she doesn’t know how to stop it, she doesn’t have any weapons, and her only clue is the necklace that arrived in a mysterious package that morning, with no return address and a cryptic note inside. She must navigate an unfamiliar world full of monsters, magic, and danger if she is to defeat the mysterious Soulless One and save her friends. And herself.
194 pages, Paperback
Published April 1, 2002
14 people are currently reading
128 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
May 26, 2020
Spoilers abound here:
As a reader, I felt betrayed by this book, because the author killed off the main character. I liked Trina and rooted for her, and then she died. Yes, she died while killing the villain, but that wasn't enough to justify her death.
Up until the final chapter, I found the story intriguing and suspenseful, although sometimes confusing. The language didn't seem to fit a Young Adult classification - more like that of a college professor.
The ending was such a letdown. The story suddenly morphed from a fantastical heroine saving her town from monsters with an enchanted sword to a school shooting. The short explanation showing how her brain couldn't deal with reality and invented a different reality didn't explain enough. The reader is left with a lot of questions and confusion.
Then the book launches into a political statement about gun control. The author seems to believe that the only hope for avoiding mass shootings is gun control.
The truly horrifying part is where the author seems to believe that reading his book will help young adults deal with school shootings. I strongly disagree. I believe the book is depressing, encourages denial of reality, has no hope whatsoever, and is likely to encourage teen suicide.
As a reader, I felt betrayed by this book, because the author killed off the main character. I liked Trina and rooted for her, and then she died. Yes, she died while killing the villain, but that wasn't enough to justify her death.
Up until the final chapter, I found the story intriguing and suspenseful, although sometimes confusing. The language didn't seem to fit a Young Adult classification - more like that of a college professor.
The ending was such a letdown. The story suddenly morphed from a fantastical heroine saving her town from monsters with an enchanted sword to a school shooting. The short explanation showing how her brain couldn't deal with reality and invented a different reality didn't explain enough. The reader is left with a lot of questions and confusion.
Then the book launches into a political statement about gun control. The author seems to believe that the only hope for avoiding mass shootings is gun control.
The truly horrifying part is where the author seems to believe that reading his book will help young adults deal with school shootings. I strongly disagree. I believe the book is depressing, encourages denial of reality, has no hope whatsoever, and is likely to encourage teen suicide.
May 2, 2020
I sit here, shaken. Impervious has hit me like only a handful of books have done in my life. I hope it impacts anyone else who reads it as hard as it has done me. I worry for anyone who reads it and is not moved.
May 31, 2020
Trinia Warren is an average girl with an average life. Having suffered the loss of her mother she traverses the difficult life of highschool and friendships before everything changes. I thoroughly enjoyed this book from start to finish, I empathised with Trinia and her character was likeable so that I rooted for her the entire way through. The plot itself is fast paced, intriguing and kept the pages turning. Without ruining the plot, there is a twist towards the end however due to the strong groundwork provided throughout the book the twist was not only believable but heart wrenching. Overall I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy an element of fantasy interlaced with normal life. Good read.
July 31, 2020
"Impervious" follows a teenaged girl named Trina. From the book jacket, it appears to follow a "chosen one" trope, where she finds that she is destined to bond with a magical necklace, go on an adventure to find a special sword, and then use it to defend reality from a monster that wields a terrible weapon. As you are reading it, you may initially think that is what is happening, but there are some odd "glitches" in the narrative. Then, there are some odd clues sprinkled here and there that suggest something else might be going on.
I had only read about a third of the book prior to joining a book club meeting discussing "Impervious". I learned what was really going on. Knowing didn't spoil it for me. In fact, it helped me make better sense of what I was reading. I have been reading it again after the big reveal in the last chapter to clarify what was really happening. The twist is on par with when you find out that the character that Bruce Willis plays in that movie with the "I see dead people" kid is actually a ghost. This revelation changes your interpretation of everything you have just experienced on screen. Similarly, the big reveal in this novel forces the reader to reinterpret everything they just read. I highly recommend this heart-wrenching book.
The book should come with a trigger warning. It's a difficult topic that too many have experienced personally.
Sidenote: the author isn't American, and there are some odd word choices here and there for a story told from the vantage point of an American teen.
I had only read about a third of the book prior to joining a book club meeting discussing "Impervious". I learned what was really going on. Knowing didn't spoil it for me. In fact, it helped me make better sense of what I was reading. I have been reading it again after the big reveal in the last chapter to clarify what was really happening. The twist is on par with when you find out that the character that Bruce Willis plays in that movie with the "I see dead people" kid is actually a ghost. This revelation changes your interpretation of everything you have just experienced on screen. Similarly, the big reveal in this novel forces the reader to reinterpret everything they just read. I highly recommend this heart-wrenching book.
The book should come with a trigger warning. It's a difficult topic that too many have experienced personally.
Sidenote: the author isn't American, and there are some odd word choices here and there for a story told from the vantage point of an American teen.
August 16, 2020
#impervious took me by surprise!
Trina is a high school student in a back water town. Her mom died of cancer not too long ago, and she is like many others her age- not especially popular at school and experiencing the loss of childhood friendships. Her refuge is fantasy & sci-fi, and lots references to these worlds are included in the book. As a fan of many of the same thins, I liked this and I’m sure it contributed towards my liking of Trina.
When she receives a mysterious gift she is thrown into a fight for her life, and those of her towns people, against monsters and a terrifying half bird/ half man. With the help of a newcomer to the town, and an angel who has chosen Trina as his champion, she bravely faces the nightmare.......
There is a huge twist near the end, and it felt real. It took me by surprise, and broke my heart. Read it and find out, the ride is worth it.
Thank you to #NetGalley & the publisher for my free advance copyright #Impervious in return for an unbiased review. I highly recommend this book!
Trina is a high school student in a back water town. Her mom died of cancer not too long ago, and she is like many others her age- not especially popular at school and experiencing the loss of childhood friendships. Her refuge is fantasy & sci-fi, and lots references to these worlds are included in the book. As a fan of many of the same thins, I liked this and I’m sure it contributed towards my liking of Trina.
When she receives a mysterious gift she is thrown into a fight for her life, and those of her towns people, against monsters and a terrifying half bird/ half man. With the help of a newcomer to the town, and an angel who has chosen Trina as his champion, she bravely faces the nightmare.......
There is a huge twist near the end, and it felt real. It took me by surprise, and broke my heart. Read it and find out, the ride is worth it.
Thank you to #NetGalley & the publisher for my free advance copyright #Impervious in return for an unbiased review. I highly recommend this book!
July 16, 2020
This is a hard book to review because talking too much about it will spoil it for another reader. I'll try to be general in my comments because of that and not give away any twists. It's a heartbreaker.
This story captures a lot of what I remember about high school experience as a geeky young woman, and what I'm seeing as an adult who works in schools. The main character, Trina, is engaging and realistic, neither overpowered nor helpless. She feels like a lot of kids I've taught and known.
The fantasy elements were tense and the descriptions of monsters and dangers were suspenseful. Trina's fear hit me viscerally as I read and experienced alongside her. So did her strength and bravery. The book has a lot to say about the nature of courage and how often what saves us is not something special or highly individual (like being a "chosen one"), but ordinary perseverance and determination.
This story captures a lot of what I remember about high school experience as a geeky young woman, and what I'm seeing as an adult who works in schools. The main character, Trina, is engaging and realistic, neither overpowered nor helpless. She feels like a lot of kids I've taught and known.
The fantasy elements were tense and the descriptions of monsters and dangers were suspenseful. Trina's fear hit me viscerally as I read and experienced alongside her. So did her strength and bravery. The book has a lot to say about the nature of courage and how often what saves us is not something special or highly individual (like being a "chosen one"), but ordinary perseverance and determination.
May 21, 2020
This short novel packs a large punch. Ostensibly, this is an epic tale about a normal, NC high school senior named Trina Warren, who receives a mysterious necklace that both gives her special powers and catapults her into a quest to save her town from The Soulless One. Her quest is infused with magical realism and is reminiscent of fan-favorite fantasy tales like LOTR and the Harry Potter saga, as well as Shakespeare. As the story reaches its climax, the reader is thrown back to reality, and the true nature of Trina's battle is revealed.
Without revealing too much, this narrative examines one of the most damning issues plaguing contemporary American society.
Without revealing too much, this narrative examines one of the most damning issues plaguing contemporary American society.
January 15, 2021
Fun. Heartbreaking. Beautiful.
Given the subject matter I'm not sure fun is an appropriate word, but I loved the read. It really took me along and I was cheering for protagonist whole way. I had fun reading it. As you go along and the stakes get higher and you begin to realise the stakes are a very realistic possibility in our own lives you get more invested in the story and the characters survival. I have never been more invested in the way a story unfolds. I wish I could comment on the ending but I won't spoil it. All I will say is that it is the most powerful ending to a book I have ever read.
Given the subject matter I'm not sure fun is an appropriate word, but I loved the read. It really took me along and I was cheering for protagonist whole way. I had fun reading it. As you go along and the stakes get higher and you begin to realise the stakes are a very realistic possibility in our own lives you get more invested in the story and the characters survival. I have never been more invested in the way a story unfolds. I wish I could comment on the ending but I won't spoil it. All I will say is that it is the most powerful ending to a book I have ever read.
April 22, 2023
I was confused through much of this book trying to figure out what was happening & why. It's a young adult book that appears to be a fantasy-type story, but it was hard to make sense of what was going on--until the last chapter. Then everything became clear, but still took some processing. The final understanding came with the author's note at the end of the book of why he wrote it. While that explained the story, it really didn't help me to like it better. It might benefit by being re-read knowing what was going to happen so you could understand the events of the story better & pick up on all the clues.
July 11, 2020
Who will? I will.
First, Trina thinks she is chosen because she is special, in the classic Young Adult (YA) story arc of the destined one. It is the stories she grew up reading and loving. Destiny, magic, special. So unlike her life with her dad still mourning the death of her mother, while she is a dead-end waitress while attending high school in a dead-end town. Being special is something.
Except for the thing that you need something special for. That special horror.
But what if you aren't special, what is if the horror is just like you. not special but every-day? And every-day person facing an every-day horror? Can you still stand up? Who will stop the every-day horror? Will you? And are you willing to pay the cost?
(Received for an honest review)
First, Trina thinks she is chosen because she is special, in the classic Young Adult (YA) story arc of the destined one. It is the stories she grew up reading and loving. Destiny, magic, special. So unlike her life with her dad still mourning the death of her mother, while she is a dead-end waitress while attending high school in a dead-end town. Being special is something.
Except for the thing that you need something special for. That special horror.
But what if you aren't special, what is if the horror is just like you. not special but every-day? And every-day person facing an every-day horror? Can you still stand up? Who will stop the every-day horror? Will you? And are you willing to pay the cost?
(Received for an honest review)
August 27, 2025
What a powerful book! This story has a serious and impactful but soul-crushing ending, and more people in this country (the US) should read this book. It addresses such chronic issues in our society and our politics, and I think it's even more significant to note that categorizing it as YA is tragically accurate. No one is more impacted by these traumas than teens. They deserve a book that voices their experiences and fears.
May 21, 2020
This book is so good. Powerful, moving, exhilarating, and heartbreaking all at once. It’s hard to say a lot about the plot without spoiling it but it takes tropes and plot devices from fantasy and uses them to describe a young woman in high school dealing with a very modern evil. Very well worth reading and I highly recommend it.
July 14, 2020
This is one of those books that put me on an emotional rollercoaster as I was reading. It's one of those rare times I can say that I can put a book down, feel like I've been mentally hit by a sledgehammer, and yet feel very satisfied with the ending.
I was pleasantly surprised for what this book had to offer, I had never read anything like it.
I was pleasantly surprised for what this book had to offer, I had never read anything like it.
March 29, 2023
First of all a big thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for sending me a copy of this book to read and review.
The ending to this story was incredibly clever. Unfortunately I didn’t feel like the rest of the book lived up to it. It was a little slow going while the story got started and to be honest I just ended up confused in the middle before that really good ending.
The ending to this story was incredibly clever. Unfortunately I didn’t feel like the rest of the book lived up to it. It was a little slow going while the story got started and to be honest I just ended up confused in the middle before that really good ending.
February 25, 2022
This book was a mixed bag for me. I liked it at first, thought it was a little immature in the middle and was blown away by the ending. The ending was very clever. I liked how fantasy was used to describe a real horrific situation.
December 6, 2022
I really didn’t expect that at all. I was absolutely gripped the entire way through and the last few chapters had me sat with my mouth agape. Nothing is what it seems when you dive into this book, and I can honestly say it definitely left an impact.
July 9, 2020
Quite good. Read in a couple sittings. Jarring.
July 19, 2020
This could have been a powerful novel. It's in dire need of fleshing out and a good edit.
August 1, 2020
Confusing and language not befitting a YA book. This reads at college/university level. An unfitting end too. Very disappointed
August 8, 2020
Such an amazing book! A truly unique read all the way through. AJ Hartley is an incredible author and this is a must add to your reading list!
March 9, 2021
Liked it
July 22, 2022
I hated this didnt care too corny hoped it would redeem itself in the end and then that happened well at least it was short and i bought it cheaply
September 11, 2023
You know what? I actually like this book more for killing off the MC. Ballsy AF, man. Kudos. Take some stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 15, 2025
Challenging book to read. Lots of internal dialogue, most of the book is one character discovering the world alone.
July 12, 2020
When I agreed to take part in the Love Books Group book tour, I honestly thought that I would be immersing myself in a new Fantasy fiction. That one genre I hold close to my heart, where I can truly lose myself in the pages and is my escapism from everyday life. Where the hero’s and heroines win through and live happily every after.
Don’t get me wrong, on the face of it, Impervious is a Fantasy story. You find yourself wrapped up in a Quest with cleverly thought out nods to legends we oh so love. King Arthur, Excalibur and The Lady of the Lake, are those that struck me the most. With bone chilling monsters thrown into the mix.
As I got further into it, I realised there is something underlying, running parallel that you need to scratch, no dig under the surface to find.
It’s that scab that you just have to pick at (no intentions to gross anyone out there, but its the best analogy I can think of at the moment)
It’s not until close to the end that I had that Eureka moment. It was at that moment my heart was wrenched from my chest and the full force of the story hit me like a ton of bricks.
I have no doubt that some of you will have you “Ah Ha” moment a lot earlier than me. I was so wrapped up in the quest that I literally could not see the woods for the trees. But that’s OKAY! I am glad I didn’t figure it out, it kinda would have spoilt it for me.
Trina our protagonist, who pretty much has the full focus throughout, with reason, is just so god damn likeable. Lets give it up for Girl Power!
She takes everything in her stride, or so you are led to believe. Im having to be so careful I don’t give anything away here!
With that said, I am going to just leave you with this……….
This is a well written book, with a truly intricate plot within a plot. Delving into the Psyche and coping mechanisms of a teenage girl. A story with a deep message!
I received my copy from Love Books Group, A.J. Hartley and Uclan Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
Don’t get me wrong, on the face of it, Impervious is a Fantasy story. You find yourself wrapped up in a Quest with cleverly thought out nods to legends we oh so love. King Arthur, Excalibur and The Lady of the Lake, are those that struck me the most. With bone chilling monsters thrown into the mix.
As I got further into it, I realised there is something underlying, running parallel that you need to scratch, no dig under the surface to find.
It’s that scab that you just have to pick at (no intentions to gross anyone out there, but its the best analogy I can think of at the moment)
It’s not until close to the end that I had that Eureka moment. It was at that moment my heart was wrenched from my chest and the full force of the story hit me like a ton of bricks.
I have no doubt that some of you will have you “Ah Ha” moment a lot earlier than me. I was so wrapped up in the quest that I literally could not see the woods for the trees. But that’s OKAY! I am glad I didn’t figure it out, it kinda would have spoilt it for me.
Trina our protagonist, who pretty much has the full focus throughout, with reason, is just so god damn likeable. Lets give it up for Girl Power!
She takes everything in her stride, or so you are led to believe. Im having to be so careful I don’t give anything away here!
With that said, I am going to just leave you with this……….
This is a well written book, with a truly intricate plot within a plot. Delving into the Psyche and coping mechanisms of a teenage girl. A story with a deep message!
I received my copy from Love Books Group, A.J. Hartley and Uclan Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
June 21, 2020
This book was an extremely interesting take on the fantasy world as we know it.
Trina is an average high school student, that is until her life is turned upside down by the appearance of magical figures in her life.
Strap yourself in because this book takes you on an incredible ride that leaves you on the edge of your seat, eagerly wanting to find out what will happen next!
I also loved the abundance of references to pop culture, as well as the way the different characters interact in the book - at the start it most definitely adds to the mystery.
The only reason this book gets 4 stars instead of 5 is that I found something slightly off kilter with the writing style in some parts. However, as a fantastical mystery I would most definitely recommend it!
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for a digital copy of the first two chapters of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Trina is an average high school student, that is until her life is turned upside down by the appearance of magical figures in her life.
Strap yourself in because this book takes you on an incredible ride that leaves you on the edge of your seat, eagerly wanting to find out what will happen next!
I also loved the abundance of references to pop culture, as well as the way the different characters interact in the book - at the start it most definitely adds to the mystery.
The only reason this book gets 4 stars instead of 5 is that I found something slightly off kilter with the writing style in some parts. However, as a fantastical mystery I would most definitely recommend it!
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for a digital copy of the first two chapters of this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 18, 2020
I was really enjoying a great fantasy read with an abundance of pop culture references. Then the book took a surprising turn and I was left feeling a little confused and almost let down....let down by real life. Had I known real life was what I would find I think I would have enjoyed it much more.
October 25, 2021
Wow, this book absolutely blew me away.
To get the technical aspects out of the way, this is wonderfully written and the character of Trina is really engaging and relatable. If this had been a standard fantasy I would have given the book a great review anyway. But there's more to it.
While the book starts off with a pretty standard fantasy trope - magical object, chosen one with a destiny - and sticks with it for the first half, the second half of the novel is where Hartley really shows his mastery over storytelling. There are twists within twists, all leading up to a dramatic, poignant and heartbreaking conclusion.
Hartley sprinkles clues about the true nature of what's happening throughout the book like Hansel and Gretel leaving breadcrumbs through the forest. About 80 percent of the way through, I was almost sure I knew what was really going on, but even then, I was half expecting another twist before the end.
To be clear, ther is no fluff here. This is, at its core, a book with a message, though, and Hartley gets that across beautifully. In fact, there is more than one message, as Trina's journey shows us the power and beauty of self-sacrifice and what it means to choose to be brave.
There's no magical reset button, which may take a toll on some readers, but it's a beautiful, savage, powerful story that seriously moved me, and you should read it too.
To get the technical aspects out of the way, this is wonderfully written and the character of Trina is really engaging and relatable. If this had been a standard fantasy I would have given the book a great review anyway. But there's more to it.
While the book starts off with a pretty standard fantasy trope - magical object, chosen one with a destiny - and sticks with it for the first half, the second half of the novel is where Hartley really shows his mastery over storytelling. There are twists within twists, all leading up to a dramatic, poignant and heartbreaking conclusion.
Hartley sprinkles clues about the true nature of what's happening throughout the book like Hansel and Gretel leaving breadcrumbs through the forest. About 80 percent of the way through, I was almost sure I knew what was really going on, but even then, I was half expecting another twist before the end.
To be clear, ther is no fluff here. This is, at its core, a book with a message, though, and Hartley gets that across beautifully. In fact, there is more than one message, as Trina's journey shows us the power and beauty of self-sacrifice and what it means to choose to be brave.
There's no magical reset button, which may take a toll on some readers, but it's a beautiful, savage, powerful story that seriously moved me, and you should read it too.
June 16, 2020
This book is an interesting mix of fantasy and thriller, with enough twists and turns to keep you guessing until the very end!
I wasn't a big fan of the writing style, although I can't put my finger on why. The plot was fast paced and the characters relatable though, so it was a fairly enjoyable and easy read.
I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I wasn't a big fan of the writing style, although I can't put my finger on why. The plot was fast paced and the characters relatable though, so it was a fairly enjoyable and easy read.
I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
May 23, 2020
Impervious is a book that grips from the start making it very difficult to put down. You cannot help but read it one or two sittings. It has all things you want in a book a bit of mystery, fantasy. A book that does not disappoint and you will not regret reading it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews