Meda is a typical teen … looking for where she belongs and fits in. But Meda is not typical … she eats souls.

She tries to only eat the souls of the people who deserve it – or at least that’s what she tells herself – but the truth is, she enjoys it. Her mother told her that the two of them were the only soul-eaters, and when her mother died Meda assumed she was the only soul eater in the world. …Until she faced three boys who were a lot like herself.  In fact, she likely would have died if not for the rescue by a teenage crusader who is trying to prove to his ability to fight in the crusade against evil.

Meda feels a little caught in the middle – she’d like to learn more about who she is, and the boys who attacked her may hold the truth about her ability, but she can’t ignore the rescue and the friendly nature of the young crusader.

Meda is taken into confidence by the ‘good guys’ and since she’s pretty sure she’s actually one of the bad guys she plans to use the time to gather as much information about herself, her past, and the battle that is apparently going on around her. But the more she learns, the more her life is turned upside down and the line between the bad guys and the good guys becomes increasingly blurred.

Cracked is outstanding YA fiction.

Meda fits the stereotype of a YA character – she thinks no one understands her (and she’s probably right, in this case) and she’s a bit lost, trying to find her path in life. But she stands out in a plethora of YA literature because she’s not simpering or morose. She is cautious but at the same time a little reckless (when she needs to feed on souls).

The supporting characters are equally interesting and unique. Typically we have a male supporting character who is so handsome the female lead just can’t help herself from falling in love, or he is too good to be true – sacrificing himself for our lead. But here our male supporting character is a bit goofy and geeky, but puts forth a good effort.  The female supporting character does have the somewhat expected combative attitude toward Meda, which creates some nice conflict, but she also has some depth to her character rather than just being a foil for Meda.

I haven’t enjoyed a YA fantasy as much as this in a very long time.  Author Eliza Crewe gives us a well-written, interesting, exciting story with refreshing characters. It’s a fun read.

Looking for a good book? Cracked, by Eliza Crewe is worth looking for if you like strong YA characters in an exciting story.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

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Cracked

author: Eliza Crewe

series: Soul Eaters #1

publisher: Strange Chemistry

ISBN: 1908844671

paperback, 327 pages

I really struggled with this book.

Body & Blood is the third book in The Survivor’s series by Amanda Havard, and perhaps if I’d read the first book or two this would have been an easier read because I would have understood the characters a little better. On the other hand, if I had read the first book (or two) I probably wouldn’t have bothered with this third book.

I don’t typically read the description of a book(such as that on Amazon or on Goodreads) before I read the book – I don’t want to be influenced – but reading the Goodreads description would have probably stopped me and saved me some time.  Here is the beginning of the Goodreads description:

How many answers you seek are just a part of you, waiting to be found?

The game has changed.

Fresh from her first brush with mortality, a fragile Sadie Matthau is playing human with Cole Hardwick while the Survivors endure unimaginable tragedy. Wrought with the first deaths of their own kind, a tyrant who will torture them, and an opponent more terrifying than anyone could have foreseen, the Survivors are facing their end.

Told from three points of view, The Survivors: Body & Blood is a bloodcurdling, mind-bending, heart-stopping ride. As Sadie and the Winters uncover more enemies, more history, and more answers, they find themselves brought closer together and ripped further apart. And all the while, a haunting Alexander Raven lurks at the edge of Sadie s lifeline, at the darkening fringes of her mind.

As the Survivors descend into chaos, Sadie realizes a painful truth: the deepest of secrets leave the darkest of marks.

Caught between a terrifying fantasy and her own grim reality, Body & Blood is the story of Sadie s dance with her demons, future, past, and present.

Lots of exciting adjectives and adverbs (this reads like a film trailer), but nothing that really describes anything to a prospective new reader.  Who are “the Survivors” mentioned in the description and series title? “Fresh from her first brush with mortality” and “playing human” … clearly there’s something paranormal or other-worldly here, but what?  Is the answer in the book?  Yes… but not too early. So those of us who have not read the other volumes, aren’t clued in very well.

I felt like the book was mostly talk.  The characters stood around and talked to one another – about plans, about what they would do, about how to solve their problems. Then something might happen, and they’d stand around and talk some more. This was one of the driest fantasies I’ve read in a long time. It was definitely NOT the bloodcurdling, mind-bending, heart-stopping ride I was hoping for.

Looking for a good book? Body & Blood by Amanda Havard might appeal if you’ve read the first two books in the series … and then again, it might not.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

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Body & Blood

author: Amanda Havard

series: The Survivors #3

publisher: Chafie Press

ISBN13: 9780983319085

hardcover, 356 pages