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Linked
Elissa used to have it all: looks, popularity, and a bright future. But for the last three years, she’s been struggling with terrifying visions, phantom pains, and mysterious bruises that appear out of nowhere.
Finally, she’s promised a cure: minor surgery to burn out the overactive area of her brain. But on the eve of the procedure, she discovers the shocking truth behind her hallucinations: she’s been seeing the world through another girl’s eyes.
Elissa follows her visions, and finds a battered, broken girl on the run. A girl—Lin—who looks exactly like Elissa, down to the matching bruises. The twin sister she never knew existed.
Now, Elissa and Lin are on the run from a government who will stop at nothing to reclaim Lin and protect the dangerous secrets she could expose—secrets that would shake the very foundation of their world.
Riveting, thought-provoking and utterly compelling, Linked will make you question what it really means to be human.
Finally, she’s promised a cure: minor surgery to burn out the overactive area of her brain. But on the eve of the procedure, she discovers the shocking truth behind her hallucinations: she’s been seeing the world through another girl’s eyes.
Elissa follows her visions, and finds a battered, broken girl on the run. A girl—Lin—who looks exactly like Elissa, down to the matching bruises. The twin sister she never knew existed.
Now, Elissa and Lin are on the run from a government who will stop at nothing to reclaim Lin and protect the dangerous secrets she could expose—secrets that would shake the very foundation of their world.
Riveting, thought-provoking and utterly compelling, Linked will make you question what it really means to be human.
368 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 11, 2013
66 people are currently reading
12500 people want to read
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March 14, 2012Okay, officially in love with this cover. Please join me in swooning.
May 24, 2013
3.7
READ THE FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE PROCEEDING
~You will be presented three series of images and asked a question after each one.
~Briefly look over each image, do not worry about spoiler-ing yourself.But do worry about teasers.
There are no right or wrong answers, only different ways of perceiving.
This test will determine the level of the compatibility between you and Linkedand me.
First series-
Q1.Do you feel the urge to pepper spray it all?
a. Yes.
b. No.
Second series-
Q2.Are you scared?
a. Whoosh!*empty space*
b. No.
Third series-
Q3.Do you see how awesome I am? 'Cause those are instances of my exploits.
Q3. Loving it yet?
a.*Still empty*
b.*nodding head with deliberation*
For mostly a's: Carry on, my wayward reader. Carry on. In the other direction, I mean.
For mostly b's: I was just kidding. There are right and wrong answers and you are mostly RIGHT-->LIKE ME-->AWESOME!
Disclaimer: There are more of the series question I won't present for fear of getting spoilerly. :C So in the rare cases, this test might not be helpful.
The few things worth noticing in Linked are its pace, the way it turns its nose at the common tropes of YA action novels and the characters. However, the novel doesn't play around with originality or plot twists; it has a straightforward, predictable story.
Lissa has hallucinations, requests surgery, smells something fishy, follows hallucinations, meets twin girl, government conspiracy, race against time and stuffs.
Same old, same old.
Wrapped it up in one sentence.
But then it goes...
Lissa doesn't use her brain and asks for help from her parents, which everybody knows you shouldn't do in a dystopian novel. But she doesn't because she hasn't read any and she doesn't know she's in a dystopian novel and thus, trusts her father who's helped her before.
Nevertheless, don't you fear for Lin, the other girl, who's had some dealing with this before is there to stuff some sense into Lissa.
Thus, this effectively removes any fears of the Missing/Ignorant Parent Syndrome while also ensuring that adults don't encroach upon the action scenes if teenagers and steal the limelight.
As a protagonist, Lissa with her over-reliability and trust issues makes for one fine character. From the first chapter, she trusts her instincts and takes action. She does get fucking annoying sometimes, always analyzing Lin, thinking about others... but you can easily connect with her, especially in the beginning. I also like that there isn't anything that special about her. She's your average, screwed-with-at-birth-or-before teenager.
The relationship development between Lin and Lissa felt a bit awkward to me as the story moved on. Lin has always been in Lissa's head whilst Lissa has been in Lin's during the worst times in Lin's existence, so a little intimacy is to be expected. The way it starts out and the way they care for each other was comfy and I liked it but some ways into the book, Lissa is either pitying Lin, lecturing her or fearing her. She has her reasons but get the FUCK OVER IT already! I needed some proximity between the two, genuine proximity.
The sci-fi and dystopian aspects of the novel were old-school but along with the action scenes, they sucked me in. Evil doctors, secret government laboratory, human-based non-human entities, starships, hyperspeed, secrets and everything else. However, the two are dealt with light years apart. Literally.
First, we deal with the world-building, some history, thus your post-apocalyptic theme, the government- look they are coming after us!- so we have the dystopian feature and yada, yada, yada.
Then, let's runnnnnnnnnn and what on earth are you, Lin? What were they doing to you? And we have to runnnnnnnnnn!!!!!!!!!
So the science-fiction and experiments and fututre transportation means come into play.
The action scenes start from the first chapter to the last is awesome, if a bit repetitive in the last hundred pages. It's all runnnnnnnnnnnn(who gets bored of runnnnnnnnnnnn!!! not meeeee!!!! I like to runnnnnnnnnnn!!!). In contrast, the emotions of other characters are only shallowly scratched and they behave rather mildly in tough situations. In fact, the writing is purely action-driven. Moreover, when you read the blurb of the book and it says
"Riveting, thought-provoking and utterly compelling, Linked will make you question what it really means to be human."
You should ignore the thought-provoking part and the second sentence.
There is a feather-light touch of romance and kissing scenes amidst sparking and wiring and crashing(romantic, no?). It's very embarrassing and clumsy. The book would have four effing stars had the romance been snipped out. Cadan is pretty mean to her at the start, in a way that reduced any possibility of fifth grade romance. You know, he pulls your hair and calls you name because he likes you? The thing going around in YA romances?
Thankfully, it's not there.
Regretfully, it doesn't work anyhow.
The ending pleased me and I can envision many other readers applauding it as well. I won't go into detail but suffice it to say, the future governments and the people holding the reins aren't all that screwed up and there's really no need of teenagers jumping in, guns a-blazing.
So done! It was a thrilling book, despite the lack of twists and shock-factors, relying on old action values and I immediately wanted to rate it four stars but thinking, thinking, thinking brought it down.
An ARC was provided by the publishers for reviewing purposes.
Cross-posted on Books behind Dam{n}s
READ THE FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE PROCEEDING
~You will be presented three series of images and asked a question after each one.
~Briefly look over each image, do not worry about spoiler-ing yourself.
There are no right or wrong answers, only different ways of perceiving.
This test will determine the level of the compatibility between you and Linked
First series-
Q1.Do you feel the urge to pepper spray it all?
a. Yes.
b. No.
Second series-
Q2.Are you scared?
a. Whoosh!*empty space*
b. No.
Third series-
Q3. Loving it yet?
a.*Still empty*
b.*nodding head with deliberation*
For mostly a's: Carry on, my wayward reader. Carry on. In the other direction, I mean.
For mostly b's: I was just kidding. There are right and wrong answers and you are mostly RIGHT-->LIKE ME-->AWESOME!
Disclaimer: There are more of the series question I won't present for fear of getting spoilerly. :C So in the rare cases, this test might not be helpful.
The few things worth noticing in Linked are its pace, the way it turns its nose at the common tropes of YA action novels and the characters. However, the novel doesn't play around with originality or plot twists; it has a straightforward, predictable story.
Lissa has hallucinations, requests surgery, smells something fishy, follows hallucinations, meets twin girl, government conspiracy, race against time and stuffs.
Same old, same old.
Wrapped it up in one sentence.
But then it goes...
Lissa doesn't use her brain and asks for help from her parents, which everybody knows you shouldn't do in a dystopian novel. But she doesn't because she hasn't read any and she doesn't know she's in a dystopian novel and thus, trusts her father who's helped her before.
Nevertheless, don't you fear for Lin, the other girl, who's had some dealing with this before is there to stuff some sense into Lissa.
Thus, this effectively removes any fears of the Missing/Ignorant Parent Syndrome while also ensuring that adults don't encroach upon the action scenes if teenagers and steal the limelight.
As a protagonist, Lissa with her over-reliability and trust issues makes for one fine character. From the first chapter, she trusts her instincts and takes action. She does get fucking annoying sometimes, always analyzing Lin, thinking about others... but you can easily connect with her, especially in the beginning. I also like that there isn't anything that special about her. She's your average, screwed-with-at-birth-or-before teenager.
The relationship development between Lin and Lissa felt a bit awkward to me as the story moved on. Lin has always been in Lissa's head whilst Lissa has been in Lin's during the worst times in Lin's existence, so a little intimacy is to be expected. The way it starts out and the way they care for each other was comfy and I liked it but some ways into the book, Lissa is either pitying Lin, lecturing her or fearing her. She has her reasons but get the FUCK OVER IT already! I needed some proximity between the two, genuine proximity.
The sci-fi and dystopian aspects of the novel were old-school but along with the action scenes, they sucked me in. Evil doctors, secret government laboratory, human-based non-human entities, starships, hyperspeed, secrets and everything else. However, the two are dealt with light years apart. Literally.
First, we deal with the world-building, some history, thus your post-apocalyptic theme, the government- look they are coming after us!- so we have the dystopian feature and yada, yada, yada.
Then, let's runnnnnnnnnn and what on earth are you, Lin? What were they doing to you? And we have to runnnnnnnnnn!!!!!!!!!
So the science-fiction and experiments and fututre transportation means come into play.
The action scenes start from the first chapter to the last is awesome, if a bit repetitive in the last hundred pages. It's all runnnnnnnnnnnn(who gets bored of runnnnnnnnnnnn!!! not meeeee!!!! I like to runnnnnnnnnnn!!!). In contrast, the emotions of other characters are only shallowly scratched and they behave rather mildly in tough situations. In fact, the writing is purely action-driven. Moreover, when you read the blurb of the book and it says
"Riveting, thought-provoking and utterly compelling, Linked will make you question what it really means to be human."
You should ignore the thought-provoking part and the second sentence.
There is a feather-light touch of romance and kissing scenes amidst sparking and wiring and crashing(romantic, no?). It's very embarrassing and clumsy. The book would have four effing stars had the romance been snipped out. Cadan is pretty mean to her at the start, in a way that reduced any possibility of fifth grade romance. You know, he pulls your hair and calls you name because he likes you? The thing going around in YA romances?
Thankfully, it's not there.
Regretfully, it doesn't work anyhow.
The ending pleased me and I can envision many other readers applauding it as well. I won't go into detail but suffice it to say, the future governments and the people holding the reins aren't all that screwed up and there's really no need of teenagers jumping in, guns a-blazing.
So done! It was a thrilling book, despite the lack of twists and shock-factors, relying on old action values and I immediately wanted to rate it four stars but thinking, thinking, thinking brought it down.
An ARC was provided by the publishers for reviewing purposes.
Cross-posted on Books behind Dam{n}s
March 23, 2015
Today, the chef serves a main dish of damsel in distress & clichéd romance novel hero, seasoned with futuristic nonsense and a side dish of silly sister in peril. For dessert, a huge dollop of instalove.
About the main dish:
it's a boring and tasteless heroine. As a main ingredient, definitely unpalatable.
The chef didn't do it any favors by cooking it with an insipid hero. Really, that's like offering ready-to-microwave lasagna in a restaurant. Those ready-to-go dishes taste all the same, be them lasagna or spaghetti or whatever, they're indistinguishable.
(In this case, the hero is the classic self-mademan boy, born poor but become successful through hard work and his own wits; he's charming, authoritative, and sure of himself. And he's a pilot, because romance-novel-heroes can't be bakers, barbers or factory workers.)
About the side dish:
mostly unexplained, totally detestable. Surrounded by logical holes so large you can decorate and live in.
About the dessert:
we've known each other since forever, I had a huge crush on you when I was little and then started to hate you. Now we are completely different persons, you spoke four (and a half) words to me, an then we have all the feels. Love, love, love.
How this book can have an average rating of 3.72 is beyond me.
About the main dish:
it's a boring and tasteless heroine. As a main ingredient, definitely unpalatable.
The chef didn't do it any favors by cooking it with an insipid hero. Really, that's like offering ready-to-microwave lasagna in a restaurant. Those ready-to-go dishes taste all the same, be them lasagna or spaghetti or whatever, they're indistinguishable.
(In this case, the hero is the classic self-made
About the side dish:
mostly unexplained, totally detestable. Surrounded by logical holes so large you can decorate and live in.
About the dessert:
we've known each other since forever, I had a huge crush on you when I was little and then started to hate you. Now we are completely different persons, you spoke four (and a half) words to me, an then we have all the feels. Love, love, love.
How this book can have an average rating of 3.72 is beyond me.
June 2, 2013
4 Stars
I got to be honest… it’s been awhile since I’ve read a Sci-Fi Young Adult read. Not that I don’t like them, it’s just hard for me to find one that can keep my interest. However, I was very surprised on how much I enjoyed Linked
If you liked Across the Universe, then you will love Linked
[Summary]
Elissa has physical pains and doesn’t know where they come from. For three years, she has been seeing visions, getting bruises on her body and feeling pain. She has the looks and was once popular, but because of her health, Elissa’s future seems to be slipping from her grasp. Elissa is offered a surgery to cure her of all of her issues and on the night before her operation, she gets visions and soon meets a girl who is beat-up, but looks just like Elissa. Lin escaped from being imprisoned and now both girls are on the run. Elissa goes to her brother’s best friend, Cadan to help them escape.
[Elissa + Lin]
I liked Elissa. I thought she was brave, strong and caring, despite her disabilities. She’s also very loyal and she’s the kind of Heroine you can admire. I didn’t really get to know Lin. Mostly I thought Linked was more of Elissa’s story, even though Lin is a main character too. Maybe I just connected with Elissa more. Lin is a big mystery and I was questioning her position throughout the story, which I liked because it kind of gave the plot a little bit of something extra.
[Cadan]
Cadan isn’t a main focal point in the book, but he should be mentioned considering he is the Hero. I liked Cadan. I thought he was arrogant, masculine and mature. I also loved the banter between Elissa and Cadan, it was kind of an adorable love/hate relationship. This is a YA novel, so everything was pretty much PG and all around sweet.
I always thought he was so arrogant, so pleased with himself. Maybe it’s not exactly arrogance – maybe its just that he’s really good at what he’s doing
[Overall]
Linked is a very descriptive book (which usually isn’t something I like) and the beginning was a bit slow. However, once you get past the story build-up, the book sets in motion and it’s a pretty action-pack from there. A bit of the book is about Elissa and Lin on the run. Both girls are completely different because of their backgrounds and both try to understand each other. The second half to middle-end is Elissa, Lin and Cadan on a spaceship escaping from to another planet.
This is what I was envisioning …
There is a bit of some techy verbiage and it kind of reminded me a lot of StarWars. I’m not a huge Sci-Fi fan, but it worked for me and I have no complaints.
I think the negative reviews are due to people not understanding the story. I kept on telling myself this is a Sci-Fi YA read. Also, because Linked is part of a series, I can understand the reasoning to the slow-build-up. Imogen Howson is just setting you up for book 2. Also, I love the cover and the text used to title the chapters (I notice things like that).
I would recommend Linked if you are in the mood for that good Sci Fi YA read.
An ARC was provided through Goodreads first
For more reviews visit - > http://www.jacquelinesreads.blogspot.com
September 17, 2012
It's a bit nerve wracking when you pick up a book by someone you know. Actually really know. Are friends with. What if you don't like it? What if it's really awful?
Fortunately, this book is really good. Futuristic worlds, ethical issues, a little romance, some science, it's all tangled in there together, in a breathless adventure that charges along. I love the ideas, the imagery, the language. And (no pressure at all) I can't wait for the sequel.
Fortunately, this book is really good. Futuristic worlds, ethical issues, a little romance, some science, it's all tangled in there together, in a breathless adventure that charges along. I love the ideas, the imagery, the language. And (no pressure at all) I can't wait for the sequel.
February 7, 2013
Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales
Quick & Dirty: Very intense interesting story with some great twists.
Opening Sentence: As Elissa and her mother entered the waiting room, the sky above Central Canyon City was a chill, pre-dawn gray, the spaceport a colorless blaze on the horizon.
The Review:
Elissa would do anything to make her hallucinations so away. Elissa is a 17 year old girl and for about 3 years now she has been having vivid hallucinations that are painful and leave bruises all over her body. She has tried everything and gone to so many different doctors but nothing has ever helped. The hallucinations have basically ruined her social life; all her friends eventually stopped talking to her because they thought she was doing it to get attention. Her parents have tried everything but they don’t know what else to do. Now there is a doctor that says he can cure everything with a simple brain procedure. Elissa can’t wait because she is finally going to be normal. A few days before the procedure she gets another hallucination but this one felt so real, she recognizes the place where it takes place. She decides to go and take a look and she finds the source of all her problems. It turns out that Elissa has a twin and they were separated at birth, but they have had a mental link that has never gone away. Elissa’s twin just escaped from the facility that has kept her a captive her whole life. The facility houses people that are called spares. The spares were told that they aren’t fully human and that their lives don’t matter. The spares go through many different experiments and when they are old enough the spares would disappear. All the spares are electrokinetic , where they can control electric currents and other things as well. Most of the experiments are very painful and the spares have a very hard life.
Together Elissa and Lin (the name they decide to use) need to escape. The government is after them and their best option is to leave the planet. Elissa grew up on the planet of Sekoia. Space travel has been going on for years and people populate many of the different planets. Elissa’s brother Bruce happens to work for Space Flight Initiative commonly known as SFI. He has been training to become a pilot for years and has just got his first assignment to fly a cargo ship. So Elissa decides to ask him for help with getting off the planet but it turns out he has been quarantined and won’t be making the journey after all. His childhood best friend Caden Greythorn is going to take his place. Caden has been an arrogant jerk to Elissa ever since he and Bruce left for flight school, but she honestly doesn’t have any other options for getting Lin to safety. She makes up a story for Caden and he agrees to let them make the trip with him. After boarding their flight they run into some problems, turns out the people that Lin escaped from want her back. They will take extreme measures to insure that none of their secrets get out.
Elissa is our main character in this book. She has a little bit of a “woe is me” attitude at times, but she gets better throughout the book. She really does try to do what’s right, but at times it’s hard to decipher right from wrong in her world. At times she is a little too trusting, but she learns from her mistakes. She develops a strong connection with Lin, and in the end she is a strong likable character.
Lin is an interesting person, because of the way she grew up she trusts and cares about no one except for Elissa. She has a spontaneous personality and tends to act before she thinks at times. She has a hard time controlling her powers especially when she feels threaten or angry. She really changes throughout the book and it’s nice to see who she develops into. I really liked Lin from the beginning, even though she is a little rough around the edges and hard to get to know she really ends up having a big heart.
I think that Caden was actually my favorite character in this book. Yeah, he comes across as arrogant at first but deep down he is actually a really great guy, and eventually Elissa realizes that she has misjudged him all these years. He really tries to do the right thing even though he could lose everything in the process. He has a soft spot for Elissa even though he has a hard time showing it. He is cute and charming in his own way.
This book was a good read for me. It moved a little slow a first and I got a little lost, but by the end everything came together nicely. There is a lot of action and the world that Howson created is interesting and unique. Right now this book is a standalone novel, but the ending was defiantly left open enough that there could be a sequel. I hope that there is, I would love to learn more about the characters and what happens to them. I would recommend this book to anyone that likes space books or sci-fi books.
Notable Scene:
She was elsewhere. In someone else’s body, looking through someone else’s eyes.
There was the cold, gritty feel of dried mud and grass beneath her curled-up legs, the taste of dust and metal in her mouth. All around the night pressed against her, thick, hot and full of noise. Something thundered over the bridge above her head, then faded into the distance; not the quiet rattle of a beetle-car, but the rumble belonging to a heavy-goods vehicle.
She was shivering, in bursts that hurt all over her skin. Her arm ached, the place where she’d torn her skin on the barbed fence throbbing in a pulse that kept rhythm with the pulse of her blood. The cut must have gotten infected. She’d been weak and sweaty since noon today, and now, around the hot red line on her skin, the flesh was hard and swollen, too painful to touch.
I don’t dare go back into the city; I can’t get into one of those medical centers without ID.
She’d thought she’d do better than this. Thought she’d been so clever. She was out, but she wasn’t any nearer to freedom than she’d been before she’d escaped.
She pulled her hooded top closer around her, shivering into it. But it didn’t help. The effort of moving sent another wave of cold through her body, and in her bones an ache began. She put her head down on her knees. If I sleep, maybe
I’ll feel better when I wake up.
Then a last thought, as the hazy darkness of fever-induced slumber took her. And if I don’t wake up, that will be a kind of freedom too . . .
FTC Advisory: Simon & Schuster provided me with a copy of Linked. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
Quick & Dirty: Very intense interesting story with some great twists.
Opening Sentence: As Elissa and her mother entered the waiting room, the sky above Central Canyon City was a chill, pre-dawn gray, the spaceport a colorless blaze on the horizon.
The Review:
Elissa would do anything to make her hallucinations so away. Elissa is a 17 year old girl and for about 3 years now she has been having vivid hallucinations that are painful and leave bruises all over her body. She has tried everything and gone to so many different doctors but nothing has ever helped. The hallucinations have basically ruined her social life; all her friends eventually stopped talking to her because they thought she was doing it to get attention. Her parents have tried everything but they don’t know what else to do. Now there is a doctor that says he can cure everything with a simple brain procedure. Elissa can’t wait because she is finally going to be normal. A few days before the procedure she gets another hallucination but this one felt so real, she recognizes the place where it takes place. She decides to go and take a look and she finds the source of all her problems. It turns out that Elissa has a twin and they were separated at birth, but they have had a mental link that has never gone away. Elissa’s twin just escaped from the facility that has kept her a captive her whole life. The facility houses people that are called spares. The spares were told that they aren’t fully human and that their lives don’t matter. The spares go through many different experiments and when they are old enough the spares would disappear. All the spares are electrokinetic , where they can control electric currents and other things as well. Most of the experiments are very painful and the spares have a very hard life.
Together Elissa and Lin (the name they decide to use) need to escape. The government is after them and their best option is to leave the planet. Elissa grew up on the planet of Sekoia. Space travel has been going on for years and people populate many of the different planets. Elissa’s brother Bruce happens to work for Space Flight Initiative commonly known as SFI. He has been training to become a pilot for years and has just got his first assignment to fly a cargo ship. So Elissa decides to ask him for help with getting off the planet but it turns out he has been quarantined and won’t be making the journey after all. His childhood best friend Caden Greythorn is going to take his place. Caden has been an arrogant jerk to Elissa ever since he and Bruce left for flight school, but she honestly doesn’t have any other options for getting Lin to safety. She makes up a story for Caden and he agrees to let them make the trip with him. After boarding their flight they run into some problems, turns out the people that Lin escaped from want her back. They will take extreme measures to insure that none of their secrets get out.
Elissa is our main character in this book. She has a little bit of a “woe is me” attitude at times, but she gets better throughout the book. She really does try to do what’s right, but at times it’s hard to decipher right from wrong in her world. At times she is a little too trusting, but she learns from her mistakes. She develops a strong connection with Lin, and in the end she is a strong likable character.
Lin is an interesting person, because of the way she grew up she trusts and cares about no one except for Elissa. She has a spontaneous personality and tends to act before she thinks at times. She has a hard time controlling her powers especially when she feels threaten or angry. She really changes throughout the book and it’s nice to see who she develops into. I really liked Lin from the beginning, even though she is a little rough around the edges and hard to get to know she really ends up having a big heart.
I think that Caden was actually my favorite character in this book. Yeah, he comes across as arrogant at first but deep down he is actually a really great guy, and eventually Elissa realizes that she has misjudged him all these years. He really tries to do the right thing even though he could lose everything in the process. He has a soft spot for Elissa even though he has a hard time showing it. He is cute and charming in his own way.
This book was a good read for me. It moved a little slow a first and I got a little lost, but by the end everything came together nicely. There is a lot of action and the world that Howson created is interesting and unique. Right now this book is a standalone novel, but the ending was defiantly left open enough that there could be a sequel. I hope that there is, I would love to learn more about the characters and what happens to them. I would recommend this book to anyone that likes space books or sci-fi books.
Notable Scene:
She was elsewhere. In someone else’s body, looking through someone else’s eyes.
There was the cold, gritty feel of dried mud and grass beneath her curled-up legs, the taste of dust and metal in her mouth. All around the night pressed against her, thick, hot and full of noise. Something thundered over the bridge above her head, then faded into the distance; not the quiet rattle of a beetle-car, but the rumble belonging to a heavy-goods vehicle.
She was shivering, in bursts that hurt all over her skin. Her arm ached, the place where she’d torn her skin on the barbed fence throbbing in a pulse that kept rhythm with the pulse of her blood. The cut must have gotten infected. She’d been weak and sweaty since noon today, and now, around the hot red line on her skin, the flesh was hard and swollen, too painful to touch.
I don’t dare go back into the city; I can’t get into one of those medical centers without ID.
She’d thought she’d do better than this. Thought she’d been so clever. She was out, but she wasn’t any nearer to freedom than she’d been before she’d escaped.
She pulled her hooded top closer around her, shivering into it. But it didn’t help. The effort of moving sent another wave of cold through her body, and in her bones an ache began. She put her head down on her knees. If I sleep, maybe
I’ll feel better when I wake up.
Then a last thought, as the hazy darkness of fever-induced slumber took her. And if I don’t wake up, that will be a kind of freedom too . . .
FTC Advisory: Simon & Schuster provided me with a copy of Linked. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
June 27, 2013
One of the biggest problems with any thriller set in a futuristic utopia is how the main character will be able to slip through the cracks. When everything is automated, when everyone is organized, where are the fringes that accommodate those on the run? When Elissa’s “illness” is revealed to be something more terrible than she ever imagined, the scope of this story expands from “teenage suburbia” to “the galaxy”, and it wasn’t until that change kicked in that I was really on board.
Elissa’s sheltered perspective made a lot of the mechanics in the opening chapters a bit of a stretch for me, but luckily Howson doesn’t spend too much time belaboring the “spy craft” of how Lissa and her twin manage their escape. Some hurried assistance from Lissa’s father, helpful obliviousness on the part of a friend, and then the story blasts off. For some reason “space opera” is more believable than “futuristic, teen caper”, and my interest in LINKED took a marked uptick. And up and up and up… the relationship between Lissa and Lin, which starts out pretty juvenile, addresses head on the social differences and scars of their separate upbringings. Despite their magical connection, Lissa and Lin have independent personalities that are never stifled or homogenized. Howson did a good job taking these very YA heroines and making them interesting (without making them any less appropriate for young readers).
Though this book started out a bit slow for me, I really enjoyed the intriguing and climactic finish. I did not expect the revelation that explains Lin’s horrible past, nor did I expect the positive future it made possible for the sisters. I finished LINKED excited for their future, and interested in the social and personal fallout sure to result from their actions. LINKED is completely satisfying as a stand alone, but I would love the chance to see more of these characters and their world in SHATTERED.
Sexual Content: Kissing.
Elissa’s sheltered perspective made a lot of the mechanics in the opening chapters a bit of a stretch for me, but luckily Howson doesn’t spend too much time belaboring the “spy craft” of how Lissa and her twin manage their escape. Some hurried assistance from Lissa’s father, helpful obliviousness on the part of a friend, and then the story blasts off. For some reason “space opera” is more believable than “futuristic, teen caper”, and my interest in LINKED took a marked uptick. And up and up and up… the relationship between Lissa and Lin, which starts out pretty juvenile, addresses head on the social differences and scars of their separate upbringings. Despite their magical connection, Lissa and Lin have independent personalities that are never stifled or homogenized. Howson did a good job taking these very YA heroines and making them interesting (without making them any less appropriate for young readers).
Though this book started out a bit slow for me, I really enjoyed the intriguing and climactic finish. I did not expect the revelation that explains Lin’s horrible past, nor did I expect the positive future it made possible for the sisters. I finished LINKED excited for their future, and interested in the social and personal fallout sure to result from their actions. LINKED is completely satisfying as a stand alone, but I would love the chance to see more of these characters and their world in SHATTERED.
Sexual Content: Kissing.
November 4, 2013
I really enjoyed this book.I thought the whole outer space thing was cool. Living in different planets and the laws about only having two kids. If be chance the second child ends up being twins instead of one, they have to give a way the strong twin and keep the "normal" one. Plus twins are able to be linked to one another. Being able to see, hear and feel what the other twin is, that was pretty awesome. I thought that the bound between Elissa and Lin was unbreakable. Not letting the other suffer or do something without the other. Elissa was a great sister to Lin. Meeting her in a short amount of time she made sure that no one would hurt Lin and that no one would get between them. Lin's powers are crazy cool being able to control metal and electricity with her mind. Helping out no matter how bad it could be for her. The relationship between Elissa and Cadan was sweet. Each thought that the other one was either to mean and bossy or that they were spoiled and were lazy. The truth was that Elissa liked Cadan years ago then stopped because he became more mean towards her, then Cadan liked Elissa but she was always pushing him aside and made it seem like there was better things to do. Soon Cadan tells her he loves her and Elissa tells him that she loves him. The ending of the book was good. It wasn't the biggest shock or something but it made you want to continue the series. The only thing that bugged me was the amount of information they gave about the society was too long and were not put in the right places in my opinion. Like there would be a dialog, then out of nowhere there would be a whole paragraph or two about how the society works. Other than that the book was pretty good!
May 10, 2016
What I thought was going to be a paranormal about twins who shared some sort of psychic link turned out to be a space opera, which was a nice surprise. I liked that Lin was flawed and she should be after the life she lived, but I also liked that she learned and grew as well. There were no super inventive ideas in Linked, but I found it a compelling, easy read.
The book is set on a terraformed planet and there were several things about the world that I liked. There were the pod motels with the vending machines where you could buy all sorts of things. There were the showers that also had built in dryers in them, the desktop in the doctor’s office that could be written on like a note pad and then uploaded onto the computer and would disappear when not needed. I liked the moving walkways everywhere, and the spaceship made out of smart metal that could repair itself with spider bots, and the skycycles. I wish the characters would have had a reason to ride one though; maybe in the next book.
The book is set on a terraformed planet and there were several things about the world that I liked. There were the pod motels with the vending machines where you could buy all sorts of things. There were the showers that also had built in dryers in them, the desktop in the doctor’s office that could be written on like a note pad and then uploaded onto the computer and would disappear when not needed. I liked the moving walkways everywhere, and the spaceship made out of smart metal that could repair itself with spider bots, and the skycycles. I wish the characters would have had a reason to ride one though; maybe in the next book.
September 22, 2013
Review to come.
March 22, 2013
Originally posted on www.yareads.com, reviewed by Nichole.
Elissa's world for the past three years has been a nightmare. She's experienced horrific pain, random bruising all over her body, blackouts, nausea, and numerous other symptoms that have beat up her body and left her feeling close to death. Over the past three years, Elissa has seen doctor after doctor, and they finally found a cure: brain surgery. The doctors have guaranteed Elissa that this surgery will remove all of the symptoms she's been experiencing and give her back her normal life. And they've given her all of four days notice.
Having just convinced herself that she can go through with the surgery, Elissa has a horrible vision of a girl in trouble. She soon discovers that this girl is her twin sister removed from her family at birth. And the even weirder side of the puzzle? They're linked. Now Elissa must fight to keep both herself and her twin alive, even if that means evading her planet's officials and racing off to somewhere that no one will ever be able to reach them.
Linked by Imogen Howson threw surprise after surprise after surprise my way. Going into it, I knew that it was a dystopia/paranormal type book, but it's really more Sci-fi than anything. I haven't read very many amazing Sci-fi books out there, so I got a little worried when that aspect of the book started peeking through, but it was amazing! The world that Imogen Howson created was beautiful, startling, well thought out, and just brilliant.
The first part of the book focuses more on the dystopia aspect of the book. This is probably the part of the book that I enjoyed the most, but we'll get into that further on in the review. It was really obvious that this was not planet Earth. People could drive on rooftops, every door, everywhere, had locking mechanisms that were very different from what we experience today. Oh, and they had a government spacecraft that they used to communicate with other active planets. In the first half of the book, Elissa and her twin are trying to run from all of these people that are after them and trying to find a safe place to catch their bearings. So many things happen in this part of the books. They're learning who to and who to not trust, more about the twin and their link together, changing their appearances, and really making the big decisions on where to go from there. This first half was really upbeat, fast paced, and a little bit stressful (in a good way.)
The second half of the book focuses more on the Sci-fi aspect of the book. Please be warned that this paragraph may be very spoilery. This half of the book focuses on the girls travelling in space to another planet. Here, we get to meet the crew, the captain and the co-captain, witness how the space ship works. And there's lots of action going on in this section of the book. There's a lot going on with Elissa's twin and people are after them. This means that a bunch of other space ships are attacking them in the middle of space. It's really cool, and it's like no other YA book that I've read before. And the book is really well written, which it makes it that much more fascinating. The only complaint that I have is that their time in space got a little repetitive. I wish that it would have been cut down a little bit.
There's not really that much romance in this book. There is a slight one, but it really doesn't develop until like the last 3 chapters of the book. It was really awkward for me, because the characters basically hated each other throughout the whole book. There was no subtle flirting or touching. It was really just a "I don't like you" kind of thing. And it was really awkward for me to have those two characters latch on and profess their love for each other at the end of the book. Where did that come from? I was fine with their being no romance in the book, and I would have preferred that it stayed that way rather than have that awkwardness.
Some things in the book were a little confusing at times. This didn't happen very often, though. I think what the issue was is that this was a whole different world. Not to mention that there were surrounding planets and moons, AND there was a space ship that we had to learn about. It's really a book that you need to concentrate on or you're going to get lost.
One thing that did bug me was that the chapters were verrrry long. I'm a pretty fast reader, but there were a couple chapters in the book that took me about 45 minutes to an hour to read. I'm a person who prefers stopping points in my books, so it was a bit annoying, but not anything major.
The ending of the book was really enjoyable. There are no cliffhangers, which I LOVED! I can't stress to you guys how much I hate cliffhangers. I understand why authors do it, but it's really just annoying. The ending of Linked sets it up really nicely for a second book. I'm not sure if this will become a series or if it's a standalone. I almost think that Howson has to create a second book with how she set it up, but a bunch of questions that arise in the beginning of the book are answered in the last two chapters.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It's a really heavy read, though, and made me want to read something very light right after it. It's intense, it kept me on my toes, and it left me craving more. Linked is 100x better than I thought it would be, and I'm really interested in reading more by Imogen Howson.
Pages: 368
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers
Publication Date: June 11th, 2013
Source: ARC provided by the publisher
Rating: [rating: 4]
Teaser Quote: She was elsewhere. In someone else’s body, looking through someone else’s eyes.
There was the cold, gritty feel of dried mud and grass beneath her curled-up legs, the taste of dust and metal in her mouth. All around the night pressed against her, thick, hot and full of noise. Something thundered over the bridge above her head, then faded into the distance; not the quiet rattle of a beetle-car, but the rumble belonging to a heavy-goods vehicle.
Elissa's world for the past three years has been a nightmare. She's experienced horrific pain, random bruising all over her body, blackouts, nausea, and numerous other symptoms that have beat up her body and left her feeling close to death. Over the past three years, Elissa has seen doctor after doctor, and they finally found a cure: brain surgery. The doctors have guaranteed Elissa that this surgery will remove all of the symptoms she's been experiencing and give her back her normal life. And they've given her all of four days notice.
Having just convinced herself that she can go through with the surgery, Elissa has a horrible vision of a girl in trouble. She soon discovers that this girl is her twin sister removed from her family at birth. And the even weirder side of the puzzle? They're linked. Now Elissa must fight to keep both herself and her twin alive, even if that means evading her planet's officials and racing off to somewhere that no one will ever be able to reach them.
Linked by Imogen Howson threw surprise after surprise after surprise my way. Going into it, I knew that it was a dystopia/paranormal type book, but it's really more Sci-fi than anything. I haven't read very many amazing Sci-fi books out there, so I got a little worried when that aspect of the book started peeking through, but it was amazing! The world that Imogen Howson created was beautiful, startling, well thought out, and just brilliant.
The first part of the book focuses more on the dystopia aspect of the book. This is probably the part of the book that I enjoyed the most, but we'll get into that further on in the review. It was really obvious that this was not planet Earth. People could drive on rooftops, every door, everywhere, had locking mechanisms that were very different from what we experience today. Oh, and they had a government spacecraft that they used to communicate with other active planets. In the first half of the book, Elissa and her twin are trying to run from all of these people that are after them and trying to find a safe place to catch their bearings. So many things happen in this part of the books. They're learning who to and who to not trust, more about the twin and their link together, changing their appearances, and really making the big decisions on where to go from there. This first half was really upbeat, fast paced, and a little bit stressful (in a good way.)
The second half of the book focuses more on the Sci-fi aspect of the book. Please be warned that this paragraph may be very spoilery. This half of the book focuses on the girls travelling in space to another planet. Here, we get to meet the crew, the captain and the co-captain, witness how the space ship works. And there's lots of action going on in this section of the book. There's a lot going on with Elissa's twin and people are after them. This means that a bunch of other space ships are attacking them in the middle of space. It's really cool, and it's like no other YA book that I've read before. And the book is really well written, which it makes it that much more fascinating. The only complaint that I have is that their time in space got a little repetitive. I wish that it would have been cut down a little bit.
There's not really that much romance in this book. There is a slight one, but it really doesn't develop until like the last 3 chapters of the book. It was really awkward for me, because the characters basically hated each other throughout the whole book. There was no subtle flirting or touching. It was really just a "I don't like you" kind of thing. And it was really awkward for me to have those two characters latch on and profess their love for each other at the end of the book. Where did that come from? I was fine with their being no romance in the book, and I would have preferred that it stayed that way rather than have that awkwardness.
Some things in the book were a little confusing at times. This didn't happen very often, though. I think what the issue was is that this was a whole different world. Not to mention that there were surrounding planets and moons, AND there was a space ship that we had to learn about. It's really a book that you need to concentrate on or you're going to get lost.
One thing that did bug me was that the chapters were verrrry long. I'm a pretty fast reader, but there were a couple chapters in the book that took me about 45 minutes to an hour to read. I'm a person who prefers stopping points in my books, so it was a bit annoying, but not anything major.
The ending of the book was really enjoyable. There are no cliffhangers, which I LOVED! I can't stress to you guys how much I hate cliffhangers. I understand why authors do it, but it's really just annoying. The ending of Linked sets it up really nicely for a second book. I'm not sure if this will become a series or if it's a standalone. I almost think that Howson has to create a second book with how she set it up, but a bunch of questions that arise in the beginning of the book are answered in the last two chapters.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It's a really heavy read, though, and made me want to read something very light right after it. It's intense, it kept me on my toes, and it left me craving more. Linked is 100x better than I thought it would be, and I'm really interested in reading more by Imogen Howson.
Pages: 368
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers
Publication Date: June 11th, 2013
Source: ARC provided by the publisher
Rating: [rating: 4]
Teaser Quote: She was elsewhere. In someone else’s body, looking through someone else’s eyes.
There was the cold, gritty feel of dried mud and grass beneath her curled-up legs, the taste of dust and metal in her mouth. All around the night pressed against her, thick, hot and full of noise. Something thundered over the bridge above her head, then faded into the distance; not the quiet rattle of a beetle-car, but the rumble belonging to a heavy-goods vehicle.
May 3, 2013
This book was originally reviewed on The Book Hookup.
An ARC was received from Simon and Schuster but that did not influence the review**
First Thoughts: WOA!! That was crazy and I loved it!! Much of the setting was in outer space, but please, please, please don’t let that deter you. It was outstanding!
The Story: Elissa has been having hallucinations for years as well as bruises that mysteriously appear. No treatment has been successful so far so she finally consents to brain surgery. However, Elissa finds out the real reason she has been having the visions….she has been seeing them through another girl’s eyes. She has a twin that she never knew existed. However, it’s not as simple as that, and once the government finds out that Elissa knows of her twin’s existence all hell breaks loose. This is the story of the girls’ escape. And boy oh boy, what a story it is.
Elissa: She goes from a passenger in her life to the driver and I loved it! She went from depression (due to her mental issues) to a leader. She stepped up to the challenge in so many ways.
Other characters: Lin and Caden were the other major players in this novel. I loved the progression of Lin and the fierce loyalty she had towards Elissa. Caden, oh le sigh. I liked him from the beginning even though he was a little full of himself. He was a total rule follower, except when he knew it was wrong. On top of that Caden was so cool under pressure, which is so very, VERY attractive. The other two characters that really stand out to me are Elissa’s parents. I hated her mother and respected her father. I don’t know if she could really ever forgive her mother.
The romance: Slow, slow, slow burn. There wasn’t really time for a romance, but what we did get was great. When love was professed at the end, I was kind of like, woa, too fast, but then again they thought they would die. I would really love to see more of the romance play out without the serious threat of the government hanging over them.
Twists and Turns: None really, but the entire story was intense. I do enjoy a good double-crossing but that was not the case here. However, there were loads and loads of dirty secrets that were uncovered as the story moved along.
Gripes: Sometimes I felt like some emotions only scratched the surface. I know there was so much to fit in, but a teensy bit longer for the romantic scene would have been great. (What can I say, I am a massive sucker for romance.) Also, the angriest Caden ever got was to swear under his breath. Honestly, in the situation they were in it would have been ok for a few f-bombs to drop. However, I can respect that the book was clean…I would have just liked to see it all rather than just know he was saying some expletives. Basically, I’m nit picking here.
The Cover: Gorgeous!!
The ending: Genius. I could slightly sense what might happen but it was better than I imagined it to turn out. I could not turn the pages fast enough. Not a cliff hanger and I assumed this was actually a stand alone novel. However, on Ms. Howson’s website she is already working on a sequel, Shattered. I can’t wait to see what she has in store for us!
Rec it? Absolutely.
An ARC was received from Simon and Schuster but that did not influence the review**
First Thoughts: WOA!! That was crazy and I loved it!! Much of the setting was in outer space, but please, please, please don’t let that deter you. It was outstanding!
The Story: Elissa has been having hallucinations for years as well as bruises that mysteriously appear. No treatment has been successful so far so she finally consents to brain surgery. However, Elissa finds out the real reason she has been having the visions….she has been seeing them through another girl’s eyes. She has a twin that she never knew existed. However, it’s not as simple as that, and once the government finds out that Elissa knows of her twin’s existence all hell breaks loose. This is the story of the girls’ escape. And boy oh boy, what a story it is.
Elissa: She goes from a passenger in her life to the driver and I loved it! She went from depression (due to her mental issues) to a leader. She stepped up to the challenge in so many ways.
Other characters: Lin and Caden were the other major players in this novel. I loved the progression of Lin and the fierce loyalty she had towards Elissa. Caden, oh le sigh. I liked him from the beginning even though he was a little full of himself. He was a total rule follower, except when he knew it was wrong. On top of that Caden was so cool under pressure, which is so very, VERY attractive. The other two characters that really stand out to me are Elissa’s parents. I hated her mother and respected her father. I don’t know if she could really ever forgive her mother.
The romance: Slow, slow, slow burn. There wasn’t really time for a romance, but what we did get was great. When love was professed at the end, I was kind of like, woa, too fast, but then again they thought they would die. I would really love to see more of the romance play out without the serious threat of the government hanging over them.
Twists and Turns: None really, but the entire story was intense. I do enjoy a good double-crossing but that was not the case here. However, there were loads and loads of dirty secrets that were uncovered as the story moved along.
Gripes: Sometimes I felt like some emotions only scratched the surface. I know there was so much to fit in, but a teensy bit longer for the romantic scene would have been great. (What can I say, I am a massive sucker for romance.) Also, the angriest Caden ever got was to swear under his breath. Honestly, in the situation they were in it would have been ok for a few f-bombs to drop. However, I can respect that the book was clean…I would have just liked to see it all rather than just know he was saying some expletives. Basically, I’m nit picking here.
The Cover: Gorgeous!!
The ending: Genius. I could slightly sense what might happen but it was better than I imagined it to turn out. I could not turn the pages fast enough. Not a cliff hanger and I assumed this was actually a stand alone novel. However, on Ms. Howson’s website she is already working on a sequel, Shattered. I can’t wait to see what she has in store for us!
Rec it? Absolutely.
September 20, 2013
(Source: I own a copy of this book.)
16-year-old Elissa has had problems with life-like visions for years, but since she got her period things have gotten worse, now she not only has the visions, but also has pain and bruising to go with it.
Numerous doctors have tried to treat her but accomplished nothing, but now a new doctor wants to try brain surgery. Her parents have said yes, but Elissa isn’t sure she wants to go through with it.
When Elissa has another vision – one that seems real, she leaves her home and goes off to the place she recognised in her vision, only to find a girl who is her identical doppelganger.
Lin is Elissa’s ‘spare’ – her identical twin who was taken by the government at birth to be experimented on. Lin has been raised to believe that she is not even human, but Elissa knows that she is, and she knows that she has to help her.
Running away together seems the only way to help Lin, but how long can Elissa and Lin stay on the run? Who can they turn to for help? And is Lin really not human?
I was really looking forward to this one, but unfortunately it just didn’t live up to that gorgeous cover.
Elissa was an okay character, I couldn’t help but laugh at her at times though, when she’d gone all out to help Lin, and was then worried that she’d abetted a sociopath! She was so calm about it, with just a slight edge of panic, it was like she’d gotten half-way through a chocolate bar, tasted something funny, and then realised that it was past it’s ‘use by’ date. I wanted her to trust her instincts a bit more, but she just couldn’t, and at times I felt like Lin was the stronger character.
The storyline in this was okay, but I did feel bored at times. There was quite a lot of stuff regarding Lissa’s brother’s pilot training, which was ridiculously boring, and at other points I felt like I was forcing myself to keep reading.
I found the storyline regarding Lin to be a bit strange. I didn’t see why the government would take these twin babies, and I didn’t see how they had the gifts they had, and why they would classify them as ‘non-human’. This book reminded me of ‘The Lost Girl’ – having a ‘spare’, identical twin, and also of ‘What’s Left of Me’ – having a twin is illegal.
Other parts of the storyline seemed a little poorly thought out, as did some of Lissa’s decisions, and some things were a little unbelievable. The sudden romance was also a bit unnecessary.
There were some twists towards the end that I didn’t see coming, but they were weird, and again I wasn’t all that impressed. The ending was okay, but I can’t say that I really want to read the next book in the series, this one was just a bit too mediocre for me unfortunately.
Overall; an okay sci-fi story, that was a little unbelievable and boring in places.
6.5 out of 10.
16-year-old Elissa has had problems with life-like visions for years, but since she got her period things have gotten worse, now she not only has the visions, but also has pain and bruising to go with it.
Numerous doctors have tried to treat her but accomplished nothing, but now a new doctor wants to try brain surgery. Her parents have said yes, but Elissa isn’t sure she wants to go through with it.
When Elissa has another vision – one that seems real, she leaves her home and goes off to the place she recognised in her vision, only to find a girl who is her identical doppelganger.
Lin is Elissa’s ‘spare’ – her identical twin who was taken by the government at birth to be experimented on. Lin has been raised to believe that she is not even human, but Elissa knows that she is, and she knows that she has to help her.
Running away together seems the only way to help Lin, but how long can Elissa and Lin stay on the run? Who can they turn to for help? And is Lin really not human?
I was really looking forward to this one, but unfortunately it just didn’t live up to that gorgeous cover.
Elissa was an okay character, I couldn’t help but laugh at her at times though, when she’d gone all out to help Lin, and was then worried that she’d abetted a sociopath! She was so calm about it, with just a slight edge of panic, it was like she’d gotten half-way through a chocolate bar, tasted something funny, and then realised that it was past it’s ‘use by’ date. I wanted her to trust her instincts a bit more, but she just couldn’t, and at times I felt like Lin was the stronger character.
The storyline in this was okay, but I did feel bored at times. There was quite a lot of stuff regarding Lissa’s brother’s pilot training, which was ridiculously boring, and at other points I felt like I was forcing myself to keep reading.
I found the storyline regarding Lin to be a bit strange. I didn’t see why the government would take these twin babies, and I didn’t see how they had the gifts they had, and why they would classify them as ‘non-human’. This book reminded me of ‘The Lost Girl’ – having a ‘spare’, identical twin, and also of ‘What’s Left of Me’ – having a twin is illegal.
Other parts of the storyline seemed a little poorly thought out, as did some of Lissa’s decisions, and some things were a little unbelievable. The sudden romance was also a bit unnecessary.
There were some twists towards the end that I didn’t see coming, but they were weird, and again I wasn’t all that impressed. The ending was okay, but I can’t say that I really want to read the next book in the series, this one was just a bit too mediocre for me unfortunately.
Overall; an okay sci-fi story, that was a little unbelievable and boring in places.
6.5 out of 10.
June 10, 2013
One of the biggest problems with any thriller set in a futuristic utopia is how the main character will be able to slip through the cracks. When everything is automated, when everyone is organized, where are the fringes that accomodate those on the run? When Elissa's "illness" is revealed to be something more terrible than she ever imagined, the scope of this story expands from "teenage suburbia" to "the galaxy".
Elissa's sheltered perspective made a lot of the mechanics in the opening chapters a bit of a stretch for me, but luckily Howson doesn't spend too much time belaboring the "spy craft" of how Lissa and her twin manage their escape. Some hurried assistace from Lissa's father, helpful obliviousness on the part of a friend, and then the story blasts off. For some reason "space opera" is more believable than "futuristic, teen caper", and my interest in LINKED took a marked uptick. And up and up and up... the relationship between Lissa and Lin, which starts out pretty juvenile, addresses head on the social differences and scars of their separate upbringings. Despite their magical connection, Lissa and Lin have independent personalities that are never stifled or homogenized.
I did not expect the revelation that explains Lin's horrible past, nor did I expect the positive future it made possible for the sisters. I finished LINKED excited for their future, and interested in the social and personal fallout sure to result from their actions. LINKED is completely satisfying as a stand alone, but I would love the chance to see more of these characters and their world.
Sexual Content: Kissing.
Elissa's sheltered perspective made a lot of the mechanics in the opening chapters a bit of a stretch for me, but luckily Howson doesn't spend too much time belaboring the "spy craft" of how Lissa and her twin manage their escape. Some hurried assistace from Lissa's father, helpful obliviousness on the part of a friend, and then the story blasts off. For some reason "space opera" is more believable than "futuristic, teen caper", and my interest in LINKED took a marked uptick. And up and up and up... the relationship between Lissa and Lin, which starts out pretty juvenile, addresses head on the social differences and scars of their separate upbringings. Despite their magical connection, Lissa and Lin have independent personalities that are never stifled or homogenized.
I did not expect the revelation that explains Lin's horrible past, nor did I expect the positive future it made possible for the sisters. I finished LINKED excited for their future, and interested in the social and personal fallout sure to result from their actions. LINKED is completely satisfying as a stand alone, but I would love the chance to see more of these characters and their world.
Sexual Content: Kissing.
April 11, 2013
Picked up this book last night at midnight, finished it at midnight the following day - this is an intense page turner book. A book that the author, Imogen Howson, has creatively woven an original, enticing, spell-binding world that got me hooked from start to finish. The story is so beautifully written that I just want more more more of this richly crafted sci-fi world. From plot, to plot twist, to characters and the NONSTOP EPIC ACTION scenes will surely entertain the readers as much as it has entertained me - never a dull moment in this book. Also, I am a hopeless romantic and I tend to seek tons of romantic/romances in books I read and although this book contains romance, it also has the right amount of romance that doesn't drown the plot nor becomes too dull for romantics like me.
June 2013 is far from now, and if you know what's right for you or wish to know what's good for you, then I truly recommend you write a reminder down your calendar to purchase a copy of this book - especially if you're a reader that needs a perfect getaway that has the perfect amount of everything: action, drama, plot twists, a phenomenal out of this world * setting and romance - LINKED by Imogen Howson is your definite, more-so perfect, read.
-Michelle Mags from Lit Up My World
-Follow me at Twitter: @MichelleMags & @litupmyworld
*ohyah, definitely a pun intended there.
NOTE: Will probably get into a detailed review of LINKED at my blog - if not now, then soon/eventually.
June 2013 is far from now, and if you know what's right for you or wish to know what's good for you, then I truly recommend you write a reminder down your calendar to purchase a copy of this book - especially if you're a reader that needs a perfect getaway that has the perfect amount of everything: action, drama, plot twists, a phenomenal out of this world * setting and romance - LINKED by Imogen Howson is your definite, more-so perfect, read.
-Michelle Mags from Lit Up My World
-Follow me at Twitter: @MichelleMags & @litupmyworld
*ohyah, definitely a pun intended there.
NOTE: Will probably get into a detailed review of LINKED at my blog - if not now, then soon/eventually.
January 30, 2013
Recommended for fans of: YA Sci-fi
I love me some YA sci-fi, and this was had everything a geek girl like me could want! Futuristic? Check. Space ships? Check. Kick-ass heroine? Double Check. The world-building was fantastic, I loved the back-story that Howson wove throughout. The pacing was great, propelling you through the pages. I like how LINKED had not one, but two characters that grow throughout the story. The plot twists and turns will keep you hooked. I also like the bigger issues the book addresses. It will get you thinking about personal freedom and individual duty.
I love me some YA sci-fi, and this was had everything a geek girl like me could want! Futuristic? Check. Space ships? Check. Kick-ass heroine? Double Check. The world-building was fantastic, I loved the back-story that Howson wove throughout. The pacing was great, propelling you through the pages. I like how LINKED had not one, but two characters that grow throughout the story. The plot twists and turns will keep you hooked. I also like the bigger issues the book addresses. It will get you thinking about personal freedom and individual duty.
July 11, 2023
coming back to write this review, let me tell you : I have absolutely no idea what it is with this book. Is the storyline laced with crack?? I genuinely dk why the plot of this book was stuck in my (and my friends) head for literal years that we scoured the internet for the title in order to reread it. If I don’t have this book close, it turns into a fever dream where I have to read it again in order to get it out of my head.
October 16, 2012
The story itself was fine. I wasn't blown away by its inventiveness, originality, or any such thing, but it was OK. I did appreciate the authors attention to small details. How futuristic technology would translate into day to day lives. I thought that created a much more believable world, and as such, the story was better than it could have been.
November 9, 2012
LINKED is a wonderful book. The worldbuilding is exquisite, and I was totally gripped throughout. And the climactic scene… OMG! Can't wait for the sequel.
October 28, 2012
Such an exciting book. I was hooked from start to finish. Since putting it down, I have really missed Elissa and the world she inhabits. Desperate to read the sequel!
March 23, 2013
Linked
I thought I knew what Linked was about before I started. I have ideas about Bourne and political thrillers, I thought the two main characters would be slumming it and trying to bring down a corrupt and mean government. I have seen it before and it is a format I like do I was looking forward to reading Linked. The moral of the story is not to assume you know what is going on before you do because this book took me somewhere I was not expecting to go. It took me to space…literally.
WOW, I was not expecting that and I read the rest of the book with a general air of WTF! I have to admit that I had issues with this one, issues that I will get to in a moment but overall I was pretty impressed with it. Sometimes it doesn’t matter if a book has inconsistences’ or problems not to me anyway. All I want from a book is to be entertained and to be dragged head first into another world. A book does not have to be perfect it has to engage me and that is exactly what Linked did.
So, let’s start with the stuff I liked. I thought the idea was really ambitions and I thought it worked really well. Surprising your reader is often a good thing but if the author doesn’t completely get behind her brave and bizarre plot twists then it doesn’t work, that was not the case here Howson owned her (at times) slightly unbelievable storyline and because she did it worked. Another thing that really made this book work was the developing relationship between Elissa and her twin Lin. It really goes the distance starting with disbelief and distrust and tending in respect and true sisterly love. There is a romance here and it was rather brilliantly underplayed which allowed the sister relationship to really shine through but still provided me with a smidge of romance which I am a sucker for.
The pacing was great; it didn’t hang around and linger on unneeded detail or drama. It did what it needed to do and then moved on without feeling sparse or rushed. The main bulk of the book takes place in space which was a really good move because that was where the book got really interesting.
Despite all the things I loved about this there were things I disliked just as much. I have an issue with books that are written in third person and rely on pages after pages of italic ‘thoughts’ of the main character. If we needed to know what she was thinking all the time then maybe she should have told the story from her point of view. I just found the italics really distracting and felt they always seemed to happen at the wrong time. I had to be shoved out of a book and that is what happened here. What didn’t help was that the italic ‘thoughts’ showed how horrible, selfish and mean spirited the main character, Elissa, could be. Most of the time I liked her but these little journey’s into her mind showed her not to be the sweet and selfless person to seemed to be. Frankly, she can be horrible and some of her selfish and thoughts about her sister were disgusting, especially considering all Lin (whom I much preferred even though she was a bit primal) had been through. It showed that Elissa was immature and bitchy and it made me dislike her.
I thought I knew what Linked was about before I started. I have ideas about Bourne and political thrillers, I thought the two main characters would be slumming it and trying to bring down a corrupt and mean government. I have seen it before and it is a format I like do I was looking forward to reading Linked. The moral of the story is not to assume you know what is going on before you do because this book took me somewhere I was not expecting to go. It took me to space…literally.
WOW, I was not expecting that and I read the rest of the book with a general air of WTF! I have to admit that I had issues with this one, issues that I will get to in a moment but overall I was pretty impressed with it. Sometimes it doesn’t matter if a book has inconsistences’ or problems not to me anyway. All I want from a book is to be entertained and to be dragged head first into another world. A book does not have to be perfect it has to engage me and that is exactly what Linked did.
So, let’s start with the stuff I liked. I thought the idea was really ambitions and I thought it worked really well. Surprising your reader is often a good thing but if the author doesn’t completely get behind her brave and bizarre plot twists then it doesn’t work, that was not the case here Howson owned her (at times) slightly unbelievable storyline and because she did it worked. Another thing that really made this book work was the developing relationship between Elissa and her twin Lin. It really goes the distance starting with disbelief and distrust and tending in respect and true sisterly love. There is a romance here and it was rather brilliantly underplayed which allowed the sister relationship to really shine through but still provided me with a smidge of romance which I am a sucker for.
The pacing was great; it didn’t hang around and linger on unneeded detail or drama. It did what it needed to do and then moved on without feeling sparse or rushed. The main bulk of the book takes place in space which was a really good move because that was where the book got really interesting.
Despite all the things I loved about this there were things I disliked just as much. I have an issue with books that are written in third person and rely on pages after pages of italic ‘thoughts’ of the main character. If we needed to know what she was thinking all the time then maybe she should have told the story from her point of view. I just found the italics really distracting and felt they always seemed to happen at the wrong time. I had to be shoved out of a book and that is what happened here. What didn’t help was that the italic ‘thoughts’ showed how horrible, selfish and mean spirited the main character, Elissa, could be. Most of the time I liked her but these little journey’s into her mind showed her not to be the sweet and selfless person to seemed to be. Frankly, she can be horrible and some of her selfish and thoughts about her sister were disgusting, especially considering all Lin (whom I much preferred even though she was a bit primal) had been through. It showed that Elissa was immature and bitchy and it made me dislike her.
May 28, 2013
Read this and other reviews on my blog: My Friends Are Fiction
The Story:
Howson's idea behind Linked was very interesting and had a lot of potential to create an exceptional book. It started off enjoyable and I was excited to be diving into the story. I wanted to know about Elissa's visions, nightmares and what was causing her physical harm. I wanted to know about her mysterious twin and why some entity was experimenting on her. What was the purpose behind all this? Sadly, after Linked took off it stalled out. The ideas and descriptions (though often too wordy for me and verging on info dump) were present though none of it was able to consistently keep my attention.
A lot of our character's time was spent on running, running, and then more running. I felt like a few areas could have successfully been cut out and would have moved things along better for me. I found myself skimming over areas and even with the sections of action the pacing felt slow to me. I can't pinpoint why because the writing was well crafted, the ideas strong. I knew as I read that the author had a very vivid world developed and a story that was well thought out but it never just grabbed hold of me.
The Characters:
The beginning had a lot of characters introduced but most of them weren't around later in the book so they felt very background. I didn't get their motivations but I have a feeling that some might make appearances later in other books.
I never connected or related to the main character Elissa in any substantial way. Her relationship with her twin sister was grating at times due to the bickering (though I have a sister so I can't say that's not realistic), but it did not make for an interesting read for me. Elissa's twin, Lin, was bland and nothing happening caused me to worry about her survival. The worst thing about this entire book was not caring. I never felt invested, not in Elissa and Lin's relationship or her relationship with her love interest.
Final Thoughts:
Overall, my biggest complaint about Linked was its slow pacing and my lack of interest in any of the characters. I couldn't even muster the energy to hate any of them. Howson writes well and I would find myself latching onto some of her writing; acknowledging the beauty of her words but it just wasn't enough to hold my interest. I don't think I'll be reading the following books in the series.
The Story:
Howson's idea behind Linked was very interesting and had a lot of potential to create an exceptional book. It started off enjoyable and I was excited to be diving into the story. I wanted to know about Elissa's visions, nightmares and what was causing her physical harm. I wanted to know about her mysterious twin and why some entity was experimenting on her. What was the purpose behind all this? Sadly, after Linked took off it stalled out. The ideas and descriptions (though often too wordy for me and verging on info dump) were present though none of it was able to consistently keep my attention.
A lot of our character's time was spent on running, running, and then more running. I felt like a few areas could have successfully been cut out and would have moved things along better for me. I found myself skimming over areas and even with the sections of action the pacing felt slow to me. I can't pinpoint why because the writing was well crafted, the ideas strong. I knew as I read that the author had a very vivid world developed and a story that was well thought out but it never just grabbed hold of me.
The Characters:
The beginning had a lot of characters introduced but most of them weren't around later in the book so they felt very background. I didn't get their motivations but I have a feeling that some might make appearances later in other books.
I never connected or related to the main character Elissa in any substantial way. Her relationship with her twin sister was grating at times due to the bickering (though I have a sister so I can't say that's not realistic), but it did not make for an interesting read for me. Elissa's twin, Lin, was bland and nothing happening caused me to worry about her survival. The worst thing about this entire book was not caring. I never felt invested, not in Elissa and Lin's relationship or her relationship with her love interest.
Final Thoughts:
Overall, my biggest complaint about Linked was its slow pacing and my lack of interest in any of the characters. I couldn't even muster the energy to hate any of them. Howson writes well and I would find myself latching onto some of her writing; acknowledging the beauty of her words but it just wasn't enough to hold my interest. I don't think I'll be reading the following books in the series.
April 2, 2013
Linked
By
Imogene Howsen
My" in a nutshell" summary...
Visions, a twin sister you didn't know you had...and you both are on the run from the bad guys...yum!
My thoughts after reading this book...
Hmmm...
Love Dystopian novels...this one is superb. Elissa lives on Sekoia...a technically advanced planet. It has a low crime rate. People are relatively content and happy. Elissa tries to be but she suffers from weird visions that leave her bruised and confused. She has rigid parents and a near perfect brother. A number of pills and medications have been tried and were not effective in helping Elissa. Last resort...a form of brain surgery. This is where we are when all the trouble begins!
Four days before her surgery...she has visions of a sick feverish girl...her visions even show her where this girl is...and Elissa goes to her...and has quite a shock...the girl Elissa finds is her "spare"...OMG...her spare!
And saving her life leads to an amazing and incredible adventure...and to Cadan...
What I loved about this book...
I loved Elissa's bravery. I loved the slidewalks...and the "home" cooking that Elissa's mother used to make dinner. This provided a bit of lightness for this tense book.
I dare say I loved this book even more than other Dystopian books I have read...it's every bit as good as Across The Universe...and as much as I loved that series...I think I loved this book even more.
What I did not love...
There really wasn't anything about this book not to love...it ended far too soon...and left me wondering if there will be another one...this is tortuous!
Final thoughts...
I found this to be a wonderful book...fascinating complex characters...to love and to hate...
Fans of Beth Revis...are sure to love this book!
By
Imogene Howsen
My" in a nutshell" summary...
Visions, a twin sister you didn't know you had...and you both are on the run from the bad guys...yum!
My thoughts after reading this book...
Hmmm...
Love Dystopian novels...this one is superb. Elissa lives on Sekoia...a technically advanced planet. It has a low crime rate. People are relatively content and happy. Elissa tries to be but she suffers from weird visions that leave her bruised and confused. She has rigid parents and a near perfect brother. A number of pills and medications have been tried and were not effective in helping Elissa. Last resort...a form of brain surgery. This is where we are when all the trouble begins!
Four days before her surgery...she has visions of a sick feverish girl...her visions even show her where this girl is...and Elissa goes to her...and has quite a shock...the girl Elissa finds is her "spare"...OMG...her spare!
And saving her life leads to an amazing and incredible adventure...and to Cadan...
What I loved about this book...
I loved Elissa's bravery. I loved the slidewalks...and the "home" cooking that Elissa's mother used to make dinner. This provided a bit of lightness for this tense book.
I dare say I loved this book even more than other Dystopian books I have read...it's every bit as good as Across The Universe...and as much as I loved that series...I think I loved this book even more.
What I did not love...
There really wasn't anything about this book not to love...it ended far too soon...and left me wondering if there will be another one...this is tortuous!
Final thoughts...
I found this to be a wonderful book...fascinating complex characters...to love and to hate...
Fans of Beth Revis...are sure to love this book!
April 28, 2014
Review by Sarah - Year 8
This is by far the best book I have ever read. The genre of this book is thriller with elements of sci-fi and romance. We follow the story of a teenage girl who is suffering extreme nightmares and bears scars from them. We find out how these affect her life and how she resolves the terrible position she is in.
What first attracted me to this book were the intriguing front cover.
Elissa wakes each morning, having suffers terrible nightmares which she is physically scarred from and finds herself on a mission to find out why this is happening to her. This book thoroughly intrigued me, the tense moments in the story gripped me and kept me on the edge of my seat.
Born a twin Elissa’s identical sister was given away at birth as a spare. Elissa was unaware of this until her nightmares worsened. Her twin is being tortured for experiments in a space programme. Her fate would be to follow all the other ‘spares’ in the world ie unwanted children.
Elissa’s brother and his friend Cadan are on a space training programme and assist Elissa in her mission to save her and her twin from a deadly fate.
The hint of romance in this story kept me intrigued. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and can’t wait to read the sequel ‘UNRAVEL’
This is by far the best book I have ever read. The genre of this book is thriller with elements of sci-fi and romance. We follow the story of a teenage girl who is suffering extreme nightmares and bears scars from them. We find out how these affect her life and how she resolves the terrible position she is in.
What first attracted me to this book were the intriguing front cover.
Elissa wakes each morning, having suffers terrible nightmares which she is physically scarred from and finds herself on a mission to find out why this is happening to her. This book thoroughly intrigued me, the tense moments in the story gripped me and kept me on the edge of my seat.
Born a twin Elissa’s identical sister was given away at birth as a spare. Elissa was unaware of this until her nightmares worsened. Her twin is being tortured for experiments in a space programme. Her fate would be to follow all the other ‘spares’ in the world ie unwanted children.
Elissa’s brother and his friend Cadan are on a space training programme and assist Elissa in her mission to save her and her twin from a deadly fate.
The hint of romance in this story kept me intrigued. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and can’t wait to read the sequel ‘UNRAVEL’
did-not-finish
June 21, 2013Read on 21st June 2013 up until 10%.
The concept sounds really interesting (even though it's definitely nothing new) but it was so hard to get into Linked. It was really exhausting to keep focused on the story and it had nothing to do with the fact that I read this on my laptop. I've read quite a few ebooks on my laptop and while I did read my fair share of boring ones, I never felt so uninterested before. Maybe it's just my mood, I don't know, but I'm not curious to find out if Linked gets better or not.
The concept sounds really interesting (even though it's definitely nothing new) but it was so hard to get into Linked. It was really exhausting to keep focused on the story and it had nothing to do with the fact that I read this on my laptop. I've read quite a few ebooks on my laptop and while I did read my fair share of boring ones, I never felt so uninterested before. Maybe it's just my mood, I don't know, but I'm not curious to find out if Linked gets better or not.
Want to read
July 24, 2012Love this cover!!
July 22, 2014
This book had such great character building and world (/spaceship ;)) building! It was a fascinating premise, and I loved every second of the MC's character arc. It was so well done!
April 15, 2013
I really enjoyed this book it was a very intense interesting story with some great twists. For full review visit Dark Faerie Tales: http://darkfaerietales.com/early-revi...
February 5, 2013
Started off slow, but turned out to be fantastic!
Review to come
Review to come
Displaying 1 - 30 of 365 reviews