Title – Strange In Skin
Series – Strange In Skin – Book #1
Author – Sara V. Zook
Genre – Paranormal, Fantasy
Publication Date – July 24, 2012
Publisher – Imagine Press
Cover Artist – Brenda Grate
Synopsis
From the moment Anna James meets the strange prisoner Emry Logan, she becomes instantly obsessed and will stop at nothing to try to get another interaction with him. But going against her family and church aren’t without consequence. She is deemed a traitor as she quickly realizes that there’s more to Emry’s past than just murder. He has a special ability that is far from human that he only shares with her. Feeling this magical connection, Anna has to free her beautiful inmate so that they can be together finally, but someone else knows about Emry’s secret and wants Anna to stop digging for answers as she finds herself in the midst of a modern day witch hunt. The life of an innocent pastor’s kid suddenly is turned upside down in a war between good and evil as Anna begins to wonder which people in her life are on the side of good, and is she one of them.
Kota's Review
Strange in Skin is the story of Anna and Emry, it is filled with twists and touches on supernatural themes.
Anna is in her late 20’s, a pastor’s daughter, living at home and living a reasonably solitary life. Anna considers herself plain, with no friends and a commitment to helping her mum run her antique shop as pretty much her only other outlet to church.
Emry is a young man who is incarcerated for murder. He is a sad man, who doesn’t engage with others in jail and can’t explain the events that led him to where he is, because he doesn’t remember.
There are a number of secondary characters in this story, there is Buck Brady the local police officer/prison warden, Anna’s parents, her Aunt Carlin and Mrs Roberston among others.
This story runs at approx. 340 pages and I felt every one of them!
This is one of the hardest reviews I have ever written, because this story was not terrible. But as I ponder my thoughts I am left asking what have I just read? I am unsure what genre this fits in to. It could be fantasy/paranormal – but there is truly not enough for me to think it fits there. It could be romance, I mean all of the action is driven by love – but again, I felt that this element was not strong enough in the story telling for me to place it into that genre. Is it a thriller/suspense – well there were certainly elements of that – but again – I wouldn’t say that dominated the story. A coming of age story – maybe? I mean Anna started to find herself and a purpose for being, but then she seemed to lose it and I am not sure she recovered enough for this to be her coming of age tale. I think because of this I am at a loss to know which aspect to consider the focus of this story.
Ms Zook writes in a tone and style that is quite easy to read, she tells an extremely detailed story, however, I personally think this is to the detriment of the characters and the plot lines. I struggled with this story and the multiple twists and turns, that did not seem to resolve satisfactorily for me.
There are sequences of time where there is a lot of detail, but little happening, and other times when things just shift and time jump with little explanation. I also struggled with the editorial errors, which at times dominated my thoughts rather than the story.
I like the characters, well I think I do – I still feel like I don’t really know them. Anna had this ability to transform and show backbone and sass, and stand up for what she believed in, and at other times she was willing to dismiss things so easily, and I am unsure to whose benefit that was.
The familial relationships in this book were unhealthy to say the least, and whether that is based on the family’s history, or just innate character traits I am unsure – but some of the dynamics seemed to have been added just for the complication factor rather than providing a rationale for behaviour.
Finally there are elements that I found unbelievable, and maybe these are a cultural difference for me, or maybe it was because of the writing, but the jail scenes, and location – was Emry in prison, or just on remand? Is someone as naïve as Anna really that able? What power does/could Pastor James really hold over the police, because I am yet to understand that relationship? And this was just to name a few.
Unfortunately this review sounds hypercritical, and while yes I am struggling with where this story is heading and why – I don’t mean to be as harsh as I probably sound. This story is readable and for some readers it may be considered gripping, enlightening and extremely well told. There are definitely some strong elements to this story – the good versus evil debate being the overpowering message and the importance of following your instinct and revisiting relationships as they progress.. however for me – Strange in Skin is sitting at a 3 – with these stronger elements being overtaken by the flaws in the story telling.
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Title – Evadere
Series – Strange In Skin – Book #2
Author – Sara V. Zook
Genre – Paranormal, Fantasy
Publication Date – December 18, 2012
Publisher – Imagine Press
Cover Artist – Brenda Grate
Synopsis
When Anna becomes separated from Emry, she has no other choice but to explore the foreign world of Evadere on her own. She soon discovers that it is tainted from a stirring turmoil among the people.
Evadere has been a place of respite and escape from the difficulties of Earth for Anna and Emry, but alone on Evadere, Anna is pulled into the stirrings of an uprising between the Scaves and the ones who force them to live as scavengers. Anna is determined not to let the fear and attempts on her life stop her from finding her way back to Emry.
But Anna is shocked when she discovers who Emry really is, the forces of evil supporting him and how the temptations in paradise have been misleading them both.
It will take all the strength and determination Anna and Emry possess to survive Evadere, even as the killing starts ...
Kota's Review
Evadere is Book 2 in the Strange in Skin story. The books starts where Strange in Skin leaves off – sort of. Anna and Emry are on the beach in Evadere at the end of Book 1. In Book 2, we start with Anna waking up and Emry being no where to be seen. This story essentially follows Anna as she attempts to survive in this foreign magical land where humans are not exactly revered. Anna forsees her only chance is to hope Emry is looking for her, and to find a way back to Earth.
Anna faces a number of battles however she meets up with a young girl names Jo, who becomes friend rather than foe. Their adventures while traumatic result in Anna learning about Evadere and the power and class differences, while ultimately finding her way back to Emry. But is Emry all that he seems?
So my thoughts… Well, this is another tough one to critique. Ms Zook has set this book in pure fantasy – so at least I can determine that! Evadere is a planet/land that is dominated by power. The Royalty have the ultimate power and authority over the contributors and the scaves. To best explain the Contributors consider the Hunger Games and its Districts. The Contributors are determined by their power and how they can contribute to the Royalty, there are farming, medical and fashion contributors for example. Each has their own specific location/community on Evadere and generally only mingle when summonsed to meet with Royalty. The Scaves (aka Scavengers) are the misfits with no powers who are cast out of their families as babies and forced to survive on the land – they are essentially a feral population thanks to their circumstances.
The idea behind the class system is sound, however the story telling is somewhat limited in its exploration. We get a base level understanding of the dynamics and how this system came to be, with a touch of intent behind the characters, however is seems that it is superficial, with an explanation popping up out of convenience, rather than flowing with the storyline.
Again I must say that Ms Zook’s writing style is read with ease, but I fear that maybe this idea grew too many legs and they have all been thrown in without any real consideration for if they all fit or are needed – hopefully that makes sense!
This story was full of adventure and drama, with twists at each turn, unfortunately it was inconsistent (jumping from storyline to storyline), appeared rushed and incomplete in the revealing of plots which often frustrated me.
Considering all of this though – this story was easier to read as more was happening, there was as I said, adventure at every turn and it progressed a little easier – and because of that I will give Evadere 3 ½ hearts.
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| 3 1/2 hearts for Evadere |
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Title – Solace
Series – Strange In Skin – Book #3
Author – Sara V. Zook
Genre – Paranormal, Fantasy
Publication Date – September 29, 2013
Publisher – Planettopia Publishing
Cover Artist – Stephanie Fontecha
Synopsis
Emry and Anna's love has always been forbidden. They've been hunted, seen those around them murdered and still don't know who to blame or who to trust. In a world where Anna is considered just a human, can peace be achieved between those inhabiting Evadere and those cast out and left for dead? They have to find out who is after them before it's too late, before one of the lives lost is their own, but are Emry's powers strong enough to save the one he loves? As their wedding day approaches, so does a war, and no one sees it coming.
Kota's Review
Well, here I am at book 3 and I still struggle with what to write. Solace is the briefest of all 3 books, and likely the conclusion.
In essence war is targeted against Anna and Emry, primarily because Anna is human, but ultimately because of jealousy and a need for power. Again behind every corner is drama, attempts on Anna’s life, class struggles and family issues that dominate this story.
Unfortunately for me, while Solace seems to be needed to conclude the story, tie up any loose ends and answer any of those previously unanswered questions – it missed the mark. Solace did actually do these things, but again it seems superficial, and the answers appeared to be ones of convenience rather than a well thought out plot resolution.
There was predictability in most of the outcomes, I think there was one that I didn’t pick, but even that was identified, resolved and anti-climactic. Everything happened so quickly that the intensity of the situation and the drama that it evoked was not allowed to prosper.
I also really struggled with Anna, and her will I or wont I be strong, do I love Emry enough – will I be queen debate. I say this because she has such strength nipping at her heels, trying to come out – but was continually shown to be an ignorant and naïve girl who felt safe even though her life was in danger more times than it wasn’t.
I will give this a 3.
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Kota's Overall thoughts
I am sitting on the fence with this series. I think Strange in Skin probably impeded the potential success of this series by not being forcefully clear in its direction. This plot idea has serious potential, but its delivery has left me wanting. There was too much in too little space for it to occur which then undermined the merits of the plot.
One of the biggest issues for me was inconsistency with the storyline. An example was when transitioning between Evadere (book 2) and Solace (book 3), steps were missing – either the end of Evadere was to convenient and Solace tried to add depth or Evadere was finished with one idea, without the intent to write Solace, but either way – the inconsistency challenged the writers credibility which left me started Solace disappointed. (this is only one example!)
Also, given the complexities of this world, and its characters, the speed at which things occurred was unbelievable. The relationship between Anna and Emry was fanciful to say the least, and the depth of feeling and emotion, and willingness to give it all up after 2 meetings just didn’t cut it. The family relationships and connections left more questions than were answered. The ending also did not work for me, in relation to the family situations.
The issue with Evadere and the Royal’s, not to mention the contributors, being essentially in a state of anarchy with everything ready to fall – it seemed really strange that the wedding and the attitudes to the crisis would seem so flippant. I understand that the need to appear united was integral, but it wasn’t given the respect it required as a storyline to allow that message to dominate. It seemed that actions and decisions were made on a whim which did not fit with the significance of the situation, regardless of whether Emry and Anna had were raised on Earth/Human.
Clearly as I read over these reviews I seem really down on this series, its not my intention, I am probably more than discombobulated by it however.
I am giving the three books an overall rating of 3 – it is acceptable. I know there will be readers who will LOVE this series, and be blown away by the story and its message of good overcoming evil. I truly hope you are out there and you are not influenced by these reviews.
These however are my honest thoughts and that is what I was asked for.
Ms Zook – the potential is clearly there – I wish you the best of luck on your writing journey.
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| Overall Rating for the Strange In Skin Trilogy |
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GIVEAWAY
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Meet Sara
Sara wrote her first book at age six. Of course, it was only a few pages, handwritten by a 6-year-old and was about kitty cats. As a child, some days she would be out venturing in the woods with her older brother and cousins, but sometimes would stay inside and create stories, write them down in a notebook and then pretend to publish them by typing them up on her mother's old typewriter. "I know, what a weird child I was." From then on out, Sara didn't want to be anything but a writer. When others would ask her classmates what they wanted to be when they grew up, some would say the usual things, singers, veterinarians, astronauts, but not Sara. Sara would say writer, and then she'd get a strange stare. Writer? What child says they want to be a writer?
Sara graduated from United High School in 2000, a small school out in the country where everyone knew each other from kindergarten up and could tell you every little detail about each other and still can. "It was a nice area to grow up, and I love going back."
In 2004, Sara graduated from the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown with a bachelor's in, you guessed it, creative writing. She had such a blast in college, met some of the greatest people that Sara still remains in close contact with along with her husband, Brad. They were married and had two children back to back, so while Sara was in "mommy land," her writing was put on the back-burner.
Sara started writing again in the summer of 2010, and after three months, 'Strange in Skin' became the product of her imagination. Sara had so much fun writing it, she couldn't stop. She would work all day and then stay up late at night typing up a few more chapters. She didn't want it to end, so Sara decided she would have to write more books to follow it. The main characters, Anna James and Emry Logan, were people Sara could relate to, that she loved to relate to. There's nothing quite like a sappy love story that's so good it sucks you in. You want them to be together. They have to be together and you can't stop reading until they are together. That with a little paranormal twist, and voila, a book is born.
Then Sara and Brad became proud parents once again. Sara is still in "mommy land" but also Strange in Skin fantasy land. The mix of both raising children and writing makes for some pretty entertaining days. Sara could write a million stories on her kids alone, especially the things that come out of their mouths that you're either so shocked they said or are so funny that you can't stop laughing.
Thanks for reading!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the reviews & being part of the tour - TONYA
ReplyDeleteThank you for the awesome giveaway I have not read any of them but I would love to.
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