Review: Exciting Adventure, Great Pacing
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 03 16, 2012
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Its an exciting adventure with impeccable pacing and a slow-burning romance - all set in an authentic, fascinating world.Every character, from the main characters to the sidekicks and side characters, were well-wrought and unique individuals. Pearson used the alternating pov well to keep the narrative interesting and to release information at a perfect nail-biting tempo.It was refreshing for me to read a male love interest who wasn't a jerk. If you don't read a lot of YA urban fantasy, this may seem like a strange statement to you, but its definitely a problem in the sub-genre. Similarly, I thought Sam was a strong heroine who was just flawed enough - she's not a typical damsel in distress, but she's not invincible and always right either.I'm not completely without criticism, however. Two plot points bothered me. Almost the entire book is a road trip, trying to get to the shelter of the N.T.U. while another organization is hunting Sam. I couldn't figure out why the N.T.U. wouldn't send people out to help them, considering they were in contact with them the whole time and the N.T.U. sent people out at another point for clean up purposes. The other point is why their contact at the N.T.U. suddenly, of her own accord, decides to join them to " help" them with nothing in particular. The only reason I could see for this was to make Sam jealous and act rashly, causing a pretty pivotal plot point. I basically forced myself to put these things from my mind so that I could continue to enjoy the story for what it was.I also had trouble accepting how little the characters' injuries affected them.I thought that the world building was done well and I believed it all, unquestionably, which is a hard thing for my scientific mind to do.The writing style is highly commercial, clean and makes for a quick read. Definitely, definitely worth the $0.99Review by: Sarah of Sift Book ReviewsSift Book Reviews received a free copy for review from the author. This has, in no way, affected the reviewer's opinion.