danys_reads's review against another edition
I don't know how to rate this book, maybe a 2.5? It was so far from what I expected based on the blurb, but the concept of the world is really interesting, unfortunately the characters are interchangeable (and there are too many of them) and the writing lacks proper transitions. I would have liked to see more exploration of the world than another love triangle.
mckenziestaley23's review against another edition
4.0
This book was extremely good, especially for it being a debut novel.
I actually have the honor of knowing who Sara Ella is before reading her book (thanks to her wonderful youtube channel, will link at the very end of the review) I will be keeping all my love for her pushed aside while writing this review.
Unblemished is a classic fairy tale, but not. Most diffidently not a retelling, but it does have the feeling of watching a fairy tale unfolding. I felt like I was watching Once Upon a Time while reading this book. Wether thats a good thing or a bad thing is up to you. To me personally, I loved it. It was not copying the show once oh ever, but it did have that feel that reminded me of the show.
A large theme in this Novel is self image. Our main character has a very large birth mark on her face and this effects the way she sees herself. But she is not the only character with self image issues within the story, some are mental, and some are physical, but the characters all have a certain trouble with themselves in some way.
Not to say it is overdone. In fact I think this is a very important fact to the story and characters themselves.
I would recommend this book to everyone. This story is very well done, for the most part. Now I will be getting into spoilers, so please leave if you haven't read the book!
So we open up with Eliyana mourning her mother. Now was it just me, or was it completely shocking when her Mom turned out to be alive? Because I was completely freaked. I was so sure it wasn't her mom and actually one of Jaysn's tricks.
Raise your hand if you hated Joshua! (hand flies up.) Can't even deny it, I was team Ky before Ky was even introduced. Barely met Joshua, wanted the other side of the triangle. When Joshua died I was honestly excited... I almost feel guilty for admitting it, almost! Then he came back and I was cussing out the pages, so...
LETS MOVE ON!
Ky! Ky is honestly my favorite. The second he walked onto the page i fell in love. Then I heard more and more about him, and his family, and his backstory, and his obvious feelings for Eliyana! Needless to say, there is no way to turn me around to Joshua. Even if Ky dies I would rather ship him than Joshua.
Again, probably need to stop bringing Joshua up, otherwise this may turn into a rant!
Though I've been talking about ships, the most important relationship is of course Eliyana and her mother. Those two are honestly the best mother daughter due I have ever seen. You can really tell they only ever had each other, and would do anything for each other. Sara did an amazing job crafting their relationship.
Now lets talk about the plot! For the most part it was pretty easy to follow. All of it crafted really well; you can really tell Sara spent a large amount of time thinking this all over. The one thing I did not like was the way we got so much information dumps. Now as a writer, I tend to do this myself so I can't judge too harshly, but as a reader, it does make me super confused, so I do have to bring it up. There were parts where so many things would be dumped on me at once that I just had no idea what they were talking about and would have to go back and reread it. I don't know if it's because I was tired from work, or the novel itself. Either way, I figured i should bring that up, as it did have an effect on my rating.
The world itself is very interesting. I have not seen a story with a world quite like this one. I think its what sets the book apart from others. At some points I was confused about the world and it's terms, but after a while I did get the hang of it.
Again, lets give Sara props for the way she handled her main theme of the novel! Though it is marketed with Eliyana's self image, it does not stop with her. Ky does have a very hard image of himself. Not as physical as her's, but more so emotional. You can really see the struggle those two go through. And maybe thats why the bonded so well? We'll have to see!
Expectations for the second book?
I do expect Ky to come back. I would like for him to come back in the beginning... for some reason I feel like that wish won't be answered.
Joshua's death? Can that please happen? Cause I would really like it to!
Eliyana's mom's wedding! Yes please! We need a nice happy fluffy wedding chapter in our future.
Joshua's death. Oh, did i already say that?
Quin and Eliyana actually becoming friends? Is it possible? I feel a slow friendship could bloom. Maybe cause they both are under Joshua's rule?
Joshua's death!
Eliyana coming into rule. This needs to happen. I do not trust Joshua for one second with the reflection. So yes, Eliyana needs to come to the throne, claim her rights, and kick that jackass to the curve!
(Cough, cough) Joshua's blood would be a very nice color splotch on that rug over there, don't you think?
Okay! I would love for you to share your thoughts on Unblemished! I love talking about books with other book nerds! Add me as a friend for more reviews! Thanks for taking the time to read my review. Talk to you all next time!
Sara Ella's youtube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCz5T9Tp6cXUAHro86jpflww
I actually have the honor of knowing who Sara Ella is before reading her book (thanks to her wonderful youtube channel, will link at the very end of the review) I will be keeping all my love for her pushed aside while writing this review.
Unblemished is a classic fairy tale, but not. Most diffidently not a retelling, but it does have the feeling of watching a fairy tale unfolding. I felt like I was watching Once Upon a Time while reading this book. Wether thats a good thing or a bad thing is up to you. To me personally, I loved it. It was not copying the show once oh ever, but it did have that feel that reminded me of the show.
A large theme in this Novel is self image. Our main character has a very large birth mark on her face and this effects the way she sees herself. But she is not the only character with self image issues within the story, some are mental, and some are physical, but the characters all have a certain trouble with themselves in some way.
Not to say it is overdone. In fact I think this is a very important fact to the story and characters themselves.
I would recommend this book to everyone. This story is very well done, for the most part. Now I will be getting into spoilers, so please leave if you haven't read the book!
So we open up with Eliyana mourning her mother. Now was it just me, or was it completely shocking when her Mom turned out to be alive? Because I was completely freaked. I was so sure it wasn't her mom and actually one of Jaysn's tricks.
Raise your hand if you hated Joshua! (hand flies up.) Can't even deny it, I was team Ky before Ky was even introduced. Barely met Joshua, wanted the other side of the triangle. When Joshua died I was honestly excited... I almost feel guilty for admitting it, almost! Then he came back and I was cussing out the pages, so...
LETS MOVE ON!
Ky! Ky is honestly my favorite. The second he walked onto the page i fell in love. Then I heard more and more about him, and his family, and his backstory, and his obvious feelings for Eliyana! Needless to say, there is no way to turn me around to Joshua. Even if Ky dies I would rather ship him than Joshua.
Again, probably need to stop bringing Joshua up, otherwise this may turn into a rant!
Though I've been talking about ships, the most important relationship is of course Eliyana and her mother. Those two are honestly the best mother daughter due I have ever seen. You can really tell they only ever had each other, and would do anything for each other. Sara did an amazing job crafting their relationship.
Now lets talk about the plot! For the most part it was pretty easy to follow. All of it crafted really well; you can really tell Sara spent a large amount of time thinking this all over. The one thing I did not like was the way we got so much information dumps. Now as a writer, I tend to do this myself so I can't judge too harshly, but as a reader, it does make me super confused, so I do have to bring it up. There were parts where so many things would be dumped on me at once that I just had no idea what they were talking about and would have to go back and reread it. I don't know if it's because I was tired from work, or the novel itself. Either way, I figured i should bring that up, as it did have an effect on my rating.
The world itself is very interesting. I have not seen a story with a world quite like this one. I think its what sets the book apart from others. At some points I was confused about the world and it's terms, but after a while I did get the hang of it.
Again, lets give Sara props for the way she handled her main theme of the novel! Though it is marketed with Eliyana's self image, it does not stop with her. Ky does have a very hard image of himself. Not as physical as her's, but more so emotional. You can really see the struggle those two go through. And maybe thats why the bonded so well? We'll have to see!
Expectations for the second book?
I do expect Ky to come back. I would like for him to come back in the beginning... for some reason I feel like that wish won't be answered.
Joshua's death? Can that please happen? Cause I would really like it to!
Eliyana's mom's wedding! Yes please! We need a nice happy fluffy wedding chapter in our future.
Joshua's death. Oh, did i already say that?
Quin and Eliyana actually becoming friends? Is it possible? I feel a slow friendship could bloom. Maybe cause they both are under Joshua's rule?
Joshua's death!
Eliyana coming into rule. This needs to happen. I do not trust Joshua for one second with the reflection. So yes, Eliyana needs to come to the throne, claim her rights, and kick that jackass to the curve!
(Cough, cough) Joshua's blood would be a very nice color splotch on that rug over there, don't you think?
Okay! I would love for you to share your thoughts on Unblemished! I love talking about books with other book nerds! Add me as a friend for more reviews! Thanks for taking the time to read my review. Talk to you all next time!
Sara Ella's youtube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCz5T9Tp6cXUAHro86jpflww
bluebell4's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
marmeelovesbook's review against another edition
4.0
It's been a while since I've read a great, speculative novel. This one is wonderful and a great first book for Sara Ella. It definitely deserved it's INSPY award and I literally can't wait to read the next one in this series. This story is rich in wonderful "fairytale" type undertones while at the same time having a character straight from Manhattan, being thrust into another world or "reflection" as they are called in this book. I absolutely loved the very strong allegorical feels in this book, especially Eliana's journey to love herself when she struggles because of a birthmark on her face that has marked her "ugly" by the world's standards and by her own. This story shows how she comes to love herself, find her own sense of self and bravery and how her weaknesses turn into symbols of great strength.
The characters in this book are clearly defined and that helps bring this story to life beautifully. There is a love triangle- you'll have to read it to find out who- but it is one of the best written love triangles that I have ever read. This is technically labeled a "young adult" novel, but I think folks of any age would really enjoy this story. As I mentioned above, can't wait to read the next one!!
4.5 stars
The characters in this book are clearly defined and that helps bring this story to life beautifully. There is a love triangle- you'll have to read it to find out who- but it is one of the best written love triangles that I have ever read. This is technically labeled a "young adult" novel, but I think folks of any age would really enjoy this story. As I mentioned above, can't wait to read the next one!!
4.5 stars
jennywren_7's review against another edition
2.0
I may be the wrong age range for this. This story follows a girl who discovers a birth mark makes her important in another world.
It reminds me a lot of 10th Kingdom but I found the constant jargon confusing and the rules seemed to be made up as you read along. And there was yet another love triangle by the end-
It reminds me a lot of 10th Kingdom but I found the constant jargon confusing and the rules seemed to be made up as you read along. And there was yet another love triangle by the end-
readingallday's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
1.5
1.5 Stars
A toxic romance, lack of admirable characters, and a convoluted plot are only a few reasons why this book should be avoided.
I picked this book up about six or seven years ago, drawn in by the cover. I didn't make it past the first two pages due to a gut warning. The book was promptly returned to the library. I should have left it there for good, but I decided a few days ago to check it out again and ensure I didn't give it the wrong rating based off a six-year-old memory.
I didn't.
Unfortunately, this book is the epitome of trashy YA, minus the explicit sex scenes.
Setting
There were a variety of settings, from New York to different worlds. It became confusing over time.
Plot
The typical plot you find in most YA books. Emotionally-inept/emotionally-constipated Teen has unknown powers/heritage that have been hidden from them since their birth until Specified Date. Teen must then save the world or an alternate world. Teen is loved by two of the opposite sex and a love triangle ensues.
Characters:
Usually there's at least one character I end up liking. Regrettably, I disliked all of them.
El was whiny and immature. I admire her love, loyalty, and dedication to and for her mom, though.
Joshua was a complex individual. The best of the three, which isn't saying much.
Ky is a semi-cretin. And a creep. It seems he's the fave of fangirls, but I didn't see it.
Faith/Spiritual elements:
No faith to speak of unless I missed something. This really disappointed me because this book is produced by a Christian publisher.
What I Liked/Was Okay With
The cover is gorgeous. Absolutely stunning.
In the front of the book, Ms. Ella has a dedication to her mom, who died. Despite the issues with the writing style, Ms. Ella somehow expertly conveyed her pain, and El's pain, and makes the reader experience it. This book feels like it's an homage to Ms. Ella's mother, and that mourning and loss is so tenderly conveyed.
What I Disliked
Honestly, I skipped huge portions of this book just so I could reach the end. There are, of course, things about every book that are subjective. I will begin with those.
Subjectives
I rarely harp on authors' writing styles because that is subjected and what I dislike another reader will like. In most cases, it's merely person preference (or personal unpreference). I also always say writing rules should be taken with a grain of salt. They are guidelines only.
El's thoughts were not italicized as they should be. Whether that's the author's or editor's fault, I don't know. But it was jarring.
I can only describe the writing style as amateurish and mediocre at best. There were some funny things, of course, like El not wanting to smell like a hobbit (now that I think about it, the hobbits probably didn't smell the best during their journey). We're always told, never showed. There was a serious allergy to conjunctions (and, or, but), and the writing is extremely stiff, stilted, and disjointed. It's annoying. We're told the sounds, not hearing them via El's awareness of her surroundings.
Examples:
Starbucks, just another block away.
Mom gasps, covers her mouth with a trembling hand.
She straightens, tightens the tie on her robe.
And then there're the noises. If El's walking down the stairs, it's basically, "I descend the stairs. Creak. Groan."
The writing style needs a lot of refinement. Every author has their own style. I get that. It makes us unique with our different voices. But this is not a style that works in the least.
The plot, also, both dragged and plodded, and it was confusing to boot. Granted, I did skip some chunks, but it was because I just couldn't get into it. At all.
Those are the subjectives. If nothing else was wrong with the book, I'd just give it a three star and toddle on. But there are some pretty serious issues that I can't ignore.
Serious:
Maybe I missed something, but it was presented like El and Joshua slept in the same home alone. Together. Without a chaperone. Yeah, I know, he's her guardian, but there are obviously romantic feelings at play and there are only, what, four?, years separating them. That's inappropriate at best.
El. Is so. Immature. Honestly, this book reminded me of why I dislike most YAs. Immature characters meant to save the world, but they can't even generate a rational, mature thought. I understand she just lost her mom. That grief is indescribable. She's going to be a bit out of it. But she doesn't think. And she's petty and jealous.
Case in point: El's jealous that Joshua has other friends. (Quote:) “Friends who aren’t me. Friends who probably include girls.”
And she's just a snot (which reveals the liberal bent in this book): she basically calls people idiots because they don't know she doesn't eat meat. Then she eats pepperoni. Then she's a snob again when she smells bacon. (Is bacon good for you? Absolutely not. But there's nothing wrong with eating it in moderation.)
And that brings up the clubbing scenes. El is 17, okay? She and friend go clubbing. She’s underaged. Apparently that doesn’t matter. While El doesn't drink, she's surrounded by alcohol, and it's suggested that...other activities are in the making. E.g., her friend goes home with a guy. (Hint: they're not married.)
El is told, “Your rack is your best feature, El. Flaunt it.”
Excuse me, how is that appropriate for a YA book touted as Christian and published by Thomas Nelson?????
It's not.
Not at all.
There are other issues along the same line. El engages in close dancing with a guy she literally just met. Hands-on-his-shoulders and his-hands-on-her-hips type of stuff. Appropriate? I think not.
El then is willing to go on a ride with the guy she literally just met. Honestly, the wheel was spinning but the hamster was dead.
There's a girl that's pretty much naked (90% in El’s estimation). Ky has no qualms looking at her.
El notes that, one time when she wakes up in an unknown location, a soft, green robe covered her 'naked body'. TMI. Really.
Then there's the love triangle. With the way Joshua's and Ky's breaths are always in her ear and yada yada and El's reaction to it, it's far too sensual.
This is one of the things that really gets me. El purportedly "loves" both of Joshua and Ky. And she alternates drooling over them. Come on, YA authors. Quit writing "heroines" that are so weak-willed and weak-minded that they're indecisive ninnies.
A movie is mentioned by name, a movie that includes sexual innuendos, and I quote from Plugged In, "A half-dozen s-words. One use of the euphemism “frikken.” Other blemishes include “h—,” “a–,” and British crudities “b-llocks” and “bloody.” God’s name is misused almost 20 times; Jesus’ once."
Yep. Sounds like a movie that should be mentioned. In a book published by a Christian publisher.
Toxicity
This book contains toxic romance. Joshua is a jerk to El, but she "still loves him". Then both he and Ky lie to her (for a range of reasons) and she "still loves them". The girl's an emotional wreck and is setting herself up for abuse.
CONCLUSION:
Unblemished has a gorgeous cover and touches on mourning a loved one, but that's where its positive qualities end. As a YA book, the Amazon page for Unblemished says it is written for those 13+. I shudder to think about anyone near that age reading this.
This book illustrates and proponents toxic romance, includes sensuality, a myriad of confusing plots and semi-plots, poor writing, and no faith. There is not one character who would make a good role-model, and as it is with most YA books, an abundance of lying occurs. But don't worry. It's for the best.
We need stories with clean, honorable romance, admirable heroes and heroines, and edifying plot lines, which is not what this book provides.
I really would have liked to see the Gospel presented. Instead of El finding her strength (what little she did find) in her identity in the world's eyes, I would have loved it if she recognized her need for a Savior, became a child of God, and realized her worth and value are undeniable because she is created in the image of God. Not because she's someone special in some mirror kingdom.
To conclude this lengthy review, Unblemished is not a book I recommend to anyone.
A toxic romance, lack of admirable characters, and a convoluted plot are only a few reasons why this book should be avoided.
I picked this book up about six or seven years ago, drawn in by the cover. I didn't make it past the first two pages due to a gut warning. The book was promptly returned to the library. I should have left it there for good, but I decided a few days ago to check it out again and ensure I didn't give it the wrong rating based off a six-year-old memory.
I didn't.
Unfortunately, this book is the epitome of trashy YA, minus the explicit sex scenes.
Setting
There were a variety of settings, from New York to different worlds. It became confusing over time.
Plot
The typical plot you find in most YA books. Emotionally-inept/emotionally-constipated Teen has unknown powers/heritage that have been hidden from them since their birth until Specified Date. Teen must then save the world or an alternate world. Teen is loved by two of the opposite sex and a love triangle ensues.
Characters:
Usually there's at least one character I end up liking. Regrettably, I disliked all of them.
El was whiny and immature. I admire her love, loyalty, and dedication to and for her mom, though.
Joshua was a complex individual. The best of the three, which isn't saying much.
Ky is a semi-cretin. And a creep. It seems he's the fave of fangirls, but I didn't see it.
Faith/Spiritual elements:
No faith to speak of unless I missed something. This really disappointed me because this book is produced by a Christian publisher.
What I Liked/Was Okay With
The cover is gorgeous. Absolutely stunning.
In the front of the book, Ms. Ella has a dedication to her mom, who died. Despite the issues with the writing style, Ms. Ella somehow expertly conveyed her pain, and El's pain, and makes the reader experience it. This book feels like it's an homage to Ms. Ella's mother, and that mourning and loss is so tenderly conveyed.
What I Disliked
Honestly, I skipped huge portions of this book just so I could reach the end. There are, of course, things about every book that are subjective. I will begin with those.
Subjectives
I rarely harp on authors' writing styles because that is subjected and what I dislike another reader will like. In most cases, it's merely person preference (or personal unpreference). I also always say writing rules should be taken with a grain of salt. They are guidelines only.
El's thoughts were not italicized as they should be. Whether that's the author's or editor's fault, I don't know. But it was jarring.
I can only describe the writing style as amateurish and mediocre at best. There were some funny things, of course, like El not wanting to smell like a hobbit (now that I think about it, the hobbits probably didn't smell the best during their journey). We're always told, never showed. There was a serious allergy to conjunctions (and, or, but), and the writing is extremely stiff, stilted, and disjointed. It's annoying. We're told the sounds, not hearing them via El's awareness of her surroundings.
Examples:
Starbucks, just another block away.
Mom gasps, covers her mouth with a trembling hand.
She straightens, tightens the tie on her robe.
And then there're the noises. If El's walking down the stairs, it's basically, "I descend the stairs. Creak. Groan."
The writing style needs a lot of refinement. Every author has their own style. I get that. It makes us unique with our different voices. But this is not a style that works in the least.
The plot, also, both dragged and plodded, and it was confusing to boot. Granted, I did skip some chunks, but it was because I just couldn't get into it. At all.
Those are the subjectives. If nothing else was wrong with the book, I'd just give it a three star and toddle on. But there are some pretty serious issues that I can't ignore.
Serious:
Maybe I missed something, but it was presented like El and Joshua slept in the same home alone. Together. Without a chaperone. Yeah, I know, he's her guardian, but there are obviously romantic feelings at play and there are only, what, four?, years separating them. That's inappropriate at best.
El. Is so. Immature. Honestly, this book reminded me of why I dislike most YAs. Immature characters meant to save the world, but they can't even generate a rational, mature thought. I understand she just lost her mom. That grief is indescribable. She's going to be a bit out of it. But she doesn't think. And she's petty and jealous.
Case in point: El's jealous that Joshua has other friends. (Quote:) “Friends who aren’t me. Friends who probably include girls.”
And she's just a snot (which reveals the liberal bent in this book): she basically calls people idiots because they don't know she doesn't eat meat. Then she eats pepperoni. Then she's a snob again when she smells bacon. (Is bacon good for you? Absolutely not. But there's nothing wrong with eating it in moderation.)
And that brings up the clubbing scenes. El is 17, okay? She and friend go clubbing. She’s underaged. Apparently that doesn’t matter. While El doesn't drink, she's surrounded by alcohol, and it's suggested that...other activities are in the making. E.g., her friend goes home with a guy. (Hint: they're not married.)
El is told, “Your rack is your best feature, El. Flaunt it.”
Excuse me, how is that appropriate for a YA book touted as Christian and published by Thomas Nelson?????
It's not.
Not at all.
There are other issues along the same line. El engages in close dancing with a guy she literally just met. Hands-on-his-shoulders and his-hands-on-her-hips type of stuff. Appropriate? I think not.
El then is willing to go on a ride with the guy she literally just met. Honestly, the wheel was spinning but the hamster was dead.
There's a girl that's pretty much naked (90% in El’s estimation). Ky has no qualms looking at her.
El notes that, one time when she wakes up in an unknown location, a soft, green robe covered her 'naked body'. TMI. Really.
Then there's the love triangle. With the way Joshua's and Ky's breaths are always in her ear and yada yada and El's reaction to it, it's far too sensual.
This is one of the things that really gets me. El purportedly "loves" both of Joshua and Ky. And she alternates drooling over them. Come on, YA authors. Quit writing "heroines" that are so weak-willed and weak-minded that they're indecisive ninnies.
A movie is mentioned by name, a movie that includes sexual innuendos, and I quote from Plugged In, "A half-dozen s-words. One use of the euphemism “frikken.” Other blemishes include “h—,” “a–,” and British crudities “b-llocks” and “bloody.” God’s name is misused almost 20 times; Jesus’ once."
Yep. Sounds like a movie that should be mentioned. In a book published by a Christian publisher.
Toxicity
This book contains toxic romance. Joshua is a jerk to El, but she "still loves him". Then both he and Ky lie to her (for a range of reasons) and she "still loves them". The girl's an emotional wreck and is setting herself up for abuse.
CONCLUSION:
Unblemished has a gorgeous cover and touches on mourning a loved one, but that's where its positive qualities end. As a YA book, the Amazon page for Unblemished says it is written for those 13+. I shudder to think about anyone near that age reading this.
This book illustrates and proponents toxic romance, includes sensuality, a myriad of confusing plots and semi-plots, poor writing, and no faith. There is not one character who would make a good role-model, and as it is with most YA books, an abundance of lying occurs. But don't worry. It's for the best.
We need stories with clean, honorable romance, admirable heroes and heroines, and edifying plot lines, which is not what this book provides.
I really would have liked to see the Gospel presented. Instead of El finding her strength (what little she did find) in her identity in the world's eyes, I would have loved it if she recognized her need for a Savior, became a child of God, and realized her worth and value are undeniable because she is created in the image of God. Not because she's someone special in some mirror kingdom.
To conclude this lengthy review, Unblemished is not a book I recommend to anyone.
story_sanctuary's review against another edition
4.0
This is probably the most surprising book I've read this year. I loved the way the worlds meshed together and some of the plot elements totally took me by surprise. I'm not great at following a series through to the end, but this is one I am going to have to make an exception for. I need to know how El's quest ends!
I think fans of Mary Weber's Storm Siren Trilogy and Tandem by Anna Jarzab will really enjoy this book!
I think fans of Mary Weber's Storm Siren Trilogy and Tandem by Anna Jarzab will really enjoy this book!
darquedreamer's review against another edition
4.0
"Once upon a time is ne'er what it seems.
And happily ever after oft a mere device of dreams.
What wicked snares are vines, and thorns cause many throes.
But peer beyond the surface; you may there find a rose."
(Ella, Unblemished)
Unblemished is like an untold faerie tale. Here you will find twists and turns amidst a fantasy world full of myth and mystery. You will become enchanted with this imaginative mix of realism and fantasy.
The Plot: 17 year old Eliyana has had an embarrassing birthmark covering half her face for as long as she can remember. Its kept her from truly enjoying, and fitting in to, the world. The only people she feels can truly see past it are her mother and the boy next door. The boy she is in love with. Other than the birthmark, her life seems normal, until the night her mother doesn't come home and her world is turned upside down. With the boy she loves, Joshua, being named her new legal guardian, catastrophic events begin to unfold, leading Eliyana in to another world. This other world, a reflection of her own, is full of strange and explainable things, and a dark, powerful man, who has been hunting Eliyana and her mother since she was born. Will she find her place in this world, discover the truth of her past, and come to realize that what she once thought to be an ugly blemish is actually her greatest strength?
It took me a few chapters to get in to this and to acclimate to the writer's style, but once I did, I couldn't put it down. Unblemished has a similar vibe, and story-line, to City of Bones, but has its own uniqueness. I enjoyed the creativity of the world in the reflection and the unusual characters found there. Though, I did feel like a lot of the major literary tropes existed in the story: Love triangle, Self Discovery, The Balance of Light and Darkness, and The Realization of the Unlikely Hero. With that said, I still felt like the story had its own originality to it. I felt like the story could have been an old faerie tale or fable.
"Trolls and sea monsters? Castles and kings? This place is nothing but a figment of some Grimm brother's imagination." (Ella, 230).
Eliyana, though the center of the story, was not my favorite character. I felt like she was a bit weak, and definitely blinded by love. She seemed to make rash decisions and she had such low self esteem, it killed me! Though, I do have to say, she seems to go through a story transformation that amends these unlikable qualities, so I look forward to seeing how she changes in book 2.
"No more fear. I am the rose behind the thorns." (Ella, 270).
Ky was the character I most enjoyed. He is the conflicted bad boy of the story. Ky is the one guy you know you shouldn't trust, but want to fall for. He has an intriguing, dark past and never really proves if he is 100% good or bad.
"Ky is a tornado--exciting and unpredictable. If I don't ground myself, he'll carry me away." (Ella, 318).
Joshua was the emotionally conflicted character of the story. I could tell in the beginning that he cared for Eliyana, but was not sure why he held back. He stays mostly unchanged throughout the book, moral and caring from afar, until the very end, when we find out that he is hiding a secret from Eliyana.
I would rate this one about 3.5-4 stars. It was interesting and unique enough to keep me reading. I definitely want to know what happens next!
And happily ever after oft a mere device of dreams.
What wicked snares are vines, and thorns cause many throes.
But peer beyond the surface; you may there find a rose."
(Ella, Unblemished)
Unblemished is like an untold faerie tale. Here you will find twists and turns amidst a fantasy world full of myth and mystery. You will become enchanted with this imaginative mix of realism and fantasy.
The Plot: 17 year old Eliyana has had an embarrassing birthmark covering half her face for as long as she can remember. Its kept her from truly enjoying, and fitting in to, the world. The only people she feels can truly see past it are her mother and the boy next door. The boy she is in love with. Other than the birthmark, her life seems normal, until the night her mother doesn't come home and her world is turned upside down. With the boy she loves, Joshua, being named her new legal guardian, catastrophic events begin to unfold, leading Eliyana in to another world. This other world, a reflection of her own, is full of strange and explainable things, and a dark, powerful man, who has been hunting Eliyana and her mother since she was born. Will she find her place in this world, discover the truth of her past, and come to realize that what she once thought to be an ugly blemish is actually her greatest strength?
It took me a few chapters to get in to this and to acclimate to the writer's style, but once I did, I couldn't put it down. Unblemished has a similar vibe, and story-line, to City of Bones, but has its own uniqueness. I enjoyed the creativity of the world in the reflection and the unusual characters found there. Though, I did feel like a lot of the major literary tropes existed in the story: Love triangle, Self Discovery, The Balance of Light and Darkness, and The Realization of the Unlikely Hero. With that said, I still felt like the story had its own originality to it. I felt like the story could have been an old faerie tale or fable.
"Trolls and sea monsters? Castles and kings? This place is nothing but a figment of some Grimm brother's imagination." (Ella, 230).
Eliyana, though the center of the story, was not my favorite character. I felt like she was a bit weak, and definitely blinded by love. She seemed to make rash decisions and she had such low self esteem, it killed me! Though, I do have to say, she seems to go through a story transformation that amends these unlikable qualities, so I look forward to seeing how she changes in book 2.
"No more fear. I am the rose behind the thorns." (Ella, 270).
Ky was the character I most enjoyed. He is the conflicted bad boy of the story. Ky is the one guy you know you shouldn't trust, but want to fall for. He has an intriguing, dark past and never really proves if he is 100% good or bad.
"Ky is a tornado--exciting and unpredictable. If I don't ground myself, he'll carry me away." (Ella, 318).
Joshua was the emotionally conflicted character of the story. I could tell in the beginning that he cared for Eliyana, but was not sure why he held back. He stays mostly unchanged throughout the book, moral and caring from afar, until the very end, when we find out that he is hiding a secret from Eliyana.
I would rate this one about 3.5-4 stars. It was interesting and unique enough to keep me reading. I definitely want to know what happens next!