January 21, 2010

Thinking on Thursday - REVIEW Interwined by Gena Showalter

On Thursdays I'm going to take time to step back and just share my thoughts on things related to reading. Sometimes these may be my thoughts or thoughts I've gotten from my students. It depends on the Thursday. It depends on the topic. It depends on the week!


From Goodreads:
There’s something about the new guy at Crossroads High . . .



Most sixteen-year-olds have friends. Aden Stone has four human souls living inside him:


One can time-travel.
One can raise the dead.
One can tell the future.
And one can possess another human.


With no other family and a life spent in and out of institutions, Aden and the souls have become friends. But now, they’re causing him all kinds of trouble.
Like, he’ll blink and suddenly he’s a younger Aden, reliving the past. One wrong move, and he’ll change the future. Or, he’ll walk past a total stranger and know how and when she’s going to die.


He’s so over it. All he wants is peace.


And then he meets a girl who quiets the voices. Well, for as long as he’s with her. Why? Mary Ann Gray is his total opposite. He’s a loner; she has friends. He doesn’t care what anyone thinks; she tries to make everyone happy. And while he attracts the paranormal, she repels it. For her sake, he should stay away. But it’s too late. . .
Somehow, they share an inexplicable bond of friendship. A bond about to be tested by a werewolf shape-shifter who wants Mary Ann for his own and a vampire princess Aden can’t resist. Two romances, both forbidden. . . doomed. Still, the four will enter a dark underworld of intrigue and danger. . . but not everyone will come out alive. .

My Review:
This was a pretty good book.  I expected it to follow the usual pattern I've seen lately with the boy sharing a secret, the girl being drawn to him, they fall in love.  Interstingly it didn't completely follow that pattern! It had a bit of a different take.  I liked Aden, and I found the four souls who lived in him amusing.  I liked how they bickered with Aden and with each other.  I couldn't imagine trying to live with that going on in your head! It really made me feel for Aden.  The story also contain quite a bit of mystery that held my interesting.  When the whole story was finally revealed I was suprised - not having guessed it all before. 

I did have some issues with the book.  Mary Ann is suppose to be smart, but she did some pretty dumb things I felt.  It was hard to believe she would do some of the things she did.  Also, there was a ton going on in this book, especially towards the end.  I began having a hard time keeping it all straight.  I don't know if more needed to revealed sooner, so I had more time to work it out in my mind OR if it should've been kept for the next book.  It just seem, at times, like a bit much.

Final thought: I enjoyed it - it wasn't "wow the best book ever" but it was a good read.

Best stick with you image:  The description of the wolf that follows Mary Ann. 

Best for ages: 14+ One of Aden's souls likes to say some rude things that may not be best for younger readers.

The second book Unraveled is set to come out in September.  I'll be interested in reading it. 

7 comments:

  1. I haven't read this one yet but it does sound good, and a little bit different to everything else out there. It's a good sign that you want to read the sequel! :)

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  2. Interesting review that really gives me food for thought. I've been wondering whether I should read this for months. I like the premise and the fact that you say it deviates from the norm in paranormal fiction at the moment is good. However, I'm still reluctant because it sounds like the end if messy. Maybe I'll wait to you read the sequel.

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  3. Nice review. I need to read this one.

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  4. I have wanted to read this because ,everybody seems to finds it to be different . I might give this book a try.Great review

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  5. I have been debatingwith myself about reading this one ever since I heard that it was coming out. I have read other books by Gina Showalter and we just don't connect. Also, the premise of this one was odd. I'm glad to hear what you think about the book. I think I will wait to see if the second one resolves some of your issues before I give it a try. My TBR stack is already way taller than I am.

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  6. Great review. I like the sound of the book, mystery..yep i'm up for it. It does sounds a little bit confusing to read with all the many souls in him!

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  7. hey making a stop over from Jenn's Books at midnight saturday network.
    Great review. I recently won this book and hadn't gotten to read it yet. Thanks for the warning that it can be confusing. Maybe knowing that in advance it will prepare me.

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