Review: GREAT BOOK!!
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 09 25, 2013
Sacred Promises18073005Written by: Jennifer Hines and Mindy Bighamreviewed by: Amanda PeakeI was given an ARC for an honest review. This book is so much fun to dive into and then.... well the story kind gets dark. I want to make sure there is a disclaimer in here that this book is not one I would recommend to those sensitive to rape issues.Author's BlurbMost children grow up in loving homes, with parents who tell them bedtime stories. Not Abbey. She spent her childhood training for a battle that always seemed too far away to ever become real.In a world of Elementals, now corrupted and misguided by the ruling families, a queen must rise up and make right the wrongs her people have had to suffer through in absence of a true leader. After spending her entire life secretly training with her guardian, eighteen-year-old Abbey must now join the Maramec Conservatory as a student, entering into a world where she will meet other Elementals, Mystics, Watchers, and Warriors. Being surrounded by the people she will someday rule over, she must keep her identity as future queen from being discovered, while managing to create friendships and deciding whom she can trust to stand by her side both now and as queen.My ReviewThis book is very different than others I have read recently. The story was capturing and kept me interested the whole time. I think the characters were for the most part well written. I'm not sure the target audience for this book either. It seems a bit over the limit for a YA book, and a little to young for a NA book. That doesn't mean people from either genre won't enjoy this read.Let's move onto the characters...Abbey is our main character she's eighteen-years-old and been raised in the foster care system. She's known from a young age she was destined for greatness. She's been training for years in fighting and elements. She doesn't' yet have the full picture of who she is or who she will become. I love the growth she has through out this book. She learns that she can depend on more people than just herself. In her position in life that is a very important lesson. She also learns that her heart and head might not always line up the way she wants.Nevara is Abbey's mentor and also important to another character. She has been keeping Abbey safe for years and training her to become who she is and who she will be. She has kept a important yet professional role in her life.Morgan is Abbey's roommate. She is an elemental and is always there for Abbey. Her role in this book becomes a best friend really fast. She is so important to Abbey because she always has her back. Though sometimes she's just a bit off base.Garik is the first guy Abbey meets at her new school. He calls her M'lady from the very start and is always polite and considerate of Abbey. He ends up helping her in one of the most violent times in her life. He's a quiet character for half the book, but he's so important.Kaleb has the reputation of a play boy and partier. He's always up for a good time at least until he gets put into the a mentor position of Abbey. Sparks fly and so do some rules. Though it's a lot more complicated than Boy likes Girl etc.. Kaleb is almost to good to be true. He has it all and that means he stands to lose everything he has and wants too.Amy, Lawrence and Timara are three other friends that are quickly made and loyal to a fault. Except Lawrence he's the ever unsure one. These three make up a group of friends that will protect and help each other even in the most difficult circumstances.My main problem with this book is how the attempted rape was handled along with the stalking. I think when writing a book for young adults it's important to show that trusting adults can be a big benefit.