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Otherselves #3
In Truth and Ashes
What she can’t remember could ruin her life.
The Mirror Worlds are but dull reflections of the True World, where magic and technology blend together…
On the True World, Belinda Loring has known from childhood that she must Bond with the son of another noble First Family. Uniting the families ensures hers will hold onto its powerful position, and so she’s always pushed down the tender feelings she has for her best friend—gorgeous, steadfast Demian, who isn’t noble.
But when the ceremonial magic goes disastrously wrong, Belinda becomes a national disgrace. Scorned as Broken, she turns to Demian for help getting revenge on the man who ruined her: the radical Malachi.
But the seeds of Malachi’s murderous plans lie buried in Belinda’s past, in the dark days of her kidnapping—a period of which she has no memory. And Demian may hold the key to recovering all that she’s lost—and saving the worlds.
The Mirror Worlds are but dull reflections of the True World, where magic and technology blend together…
On the True World, Belinda Loring has known from childhood that she must Bond with the son of another noble First Family. Uniting the families ensures hers will hold onto its powerful position, and so she’s always pushed down the tender feelings she has for her best friend—gorgeous, steadfast Demian, who isn’t noble.
But when the ceremonial magic goes disastrously wrong, Belinda becomes a national disgrace. Scorned as Broken, she turns to Demian for help getting revenge on the man who ruined her: the radical Malachi.
But the seeds of Malachi’s murderous plans lie buried in Belinda’s past, in the dark days of her kidnapping—a period of which she has no memory. And Demian may hold the key to recovering all that she’s lost—and saving the worlds.
- GenresFantasyYoung Adult
ebook
Published January 2, 2017
256 people want to read
About the author
Nicole Luiken
20 books170 followersNicole Luiken wrote her first book at 13 and was published at 16. She writes SF and fantasy for both adults and teens. She lives with her family in Edmonton. It is impossible for her to go more than three days in a row without writing.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
February 7, 2017
Wow - what a finale to this intriguing series! This is one where I really believe it is necessary to have read the earlier books in the series before starting this on - but they make a great story, so it is well worth doing so IMHO! Readers of earlier stories will know that in this fantasy series there are other worlds besides the “True World”, they are the worlds of Fire, Water and Air. For some significant people, they have their equivalent person living on each world - they are their otherselves (hence the series title!). Much of this story is set on the True World, and focusses on Belinda who has otherselves on all the worlds and who were the heroines in earlier stories and who also have their parts to play in this story, too.
Belinda had been kidnapped as a child by a mysterious, notorious person known as Malachi. She has no memory of what happened to her during the days she was missing. Now she’s going to take part in the Binding Ceremony, an important event for her, her otherselves and the person to whom she is being bound as it will promise that she will marry him and that their otherselves will also be similarly bound together. When disaster strikes, Belinda needs to discover just what happened during those forgotten days, working with her friend Demian to do so. Can they find out what happened? Can they protect the Worlds and prevent their destruction? Can they - and their otherselves - find their soulmates and true love?
This is an action packed fantasy, with danger and perils around every corner as the otherselves strive to save all the Worlds and those of their other selves. It is a story of alternate worlds where teen heroes fight those willing to risk all to promote themselves and gain power. Love permeates throughout the stories and this book is an excellent conclusion to the trilogy. it fills in so many blanks from the other stories and adds to the readers’ understanding of the backstory and resolving things but only after some adventures and surprises along the way. This is a great series for anyone who enjoys fantasy, regardless of their age!
Many thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for gifting me an ARC of this novel. This is my honest review.
Belinda had been kidnapped as a child by a mysterious, notorious person known as Malachi. She has no memory of what happened to her during the days she was missing. Now she’s going to take part in the Binding Ceremony, an important event for her, her otherselves and the person to whom she is being bound as it will promise that she will marry him and that their otherselves will also be similarly bound together. When disaster strikes, Belinda needs to discover just what happened during those forgotten days, working with her friend Demian to do so. Can they find out what happened? Can they protect the Worlds and prevent their destruction? Can they - and their otherselves - find their soulmates and true love?
This is an action packed fantasy, with danger and perils around every corner as the otherselves strive to save all the Worlds and those of their other selves. It is a story of alternate worlds where teen heroes fight those willing to risk all to promote themselves and gain power. Love permeates throughout the stories and this book is an excellent conclusion to the trilogy. it fills in so many blanks from the other stories and adds to the readers’ understanding of the backstory and resolving things but only after some adventures and surprises along the way. This is a great series for anyone who enjoys fantasy, regardless of their age!
Many thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for gifting me an ARC of this novel. This is my honest review.
January 2, 2017
*I received this eBook as a review copy from a publisher at Entangled Teen via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
I have got to say this was a good conclusion to the end of the Otherselves trilogy. I loved learning more about the True World, which was the last world we hadn't learned that much about yet. Belinda is going to be bonded to someone of her families choosing in order to ensure that the next generation will have four other selves. Something goes wrong after the bonding ceremony, so Belinda decides to go on a quest to find and destroy Malachi. On her quest, Belinda brings along her childhood friend, Damian.
An overall theme that I found interesting was how prominent Fire World and Leah were to the whole series. I really liked how Nicole Luiken wove her through the story and having her have a part in the "war." Also, throughout the book they looped must of the other worlds in multiple times which, I liked because I loved learning more about each of the worlds.
Throughout the third book, many things seem to begin to fall into place. With learning more about the True World, you understand more about the mirror worlds. With that you start to see all the sides of the story after learning about the worlds in the other books. I enjoyed reading the book as all the pieces began to fall into place and you could finally understand why that event happened.
I really enjoyed the third book and would reccomend the Otherselves trilogy to anyone who enjoys fantasy books or mythology. Nicole Luiken is an amazing author and I truely enjoyed reading this book. "In Truth and Ashes" had it's up and downs but overall I really enjoyed the book and would definately reccomend it to my friends who love fantasy books.
I have got to say this was a good conclusion to the end of the Otherselves trilogy. I loved learning more about the True World, which was the last world we hadn't learned that much about yet. Belinda is going to be bonded to someone of her families choosing in order to ensure that the next generation will have four other selves. Something goes wrong after the bonding ceremony, so Belinda decides to go on a quest to find and destroy Malachi. On her quest, Belinda brings along her childhood friend, Damian.
An overall theme that I found interesting was how prominent Fire World and Leah were to the whole series. I really liked how Nicole Luiken wove her through the story and having her have a part in the "war." Also, throughout the book they looped must of the other worlds in multiple times which, I liked because I loved learning more about each of the worlds.
Throughout the third book, many things seem to begin to fall into place. With learning more about the True World, you understand more about the mirror worlds. With that you start to see all the sides of the story after learning about the worlds in the other books. I enjoyed reading the book as all the pieces began to fall into place and you could finally understand why that event happened.
I really enjoyed the third book and would reccomend the Otherselves trilogy to anyone who enjoys fantasy books or mythology. Nicole Luiken is an amazing author and I truely enjoyed reading this book. "In Truth and Ashes" had it's up and downs but overall I really enjoyed the book and would definately reccomend it to my friends who love fantasy books.
July 30, 2018
In Truth & Ashes was a bit different from the previous books in the Otherselves series. It really focuses on one world - the True World. The True World sits at the "center" of the Mirror Worlds and somewhat exerts control over them, playing matchmaker to ensure the True World selves have matching selves on the Mirror Worlds. It was all a bit creepy and really relegated that elemental worlds to nothing much more than a source of resources and prestige.
Belinda is the center of our story and matching self for the characters in the Mirror Worlds. And at first, I hated her. I never really truly liked her, but she did earn my respect. The final book in this series tries to draw all the cords together into one place, but that means I really missed seeing more of the Mirror Worlds that I had really loved. Fire is the only one that really manages to take center stage other than the True World.
Things do come to some rather startling and unexpected conclusions. There is far more heart-pounding excitement in the final book than the others, and the way the day is saved was amazing. A few times we went over the top, but if you're going to go there, an explosive ending is the way to do it.
*I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of this book*
Belinda is the center of our story and matching self for the characters in the Mirror Worlds. And at first, I hated her. I never really truly liked her, but she did earn my respect. The final book in this series tries to draw all the cords together into one place, but that means I really missed seeing more of the Mirror Worlds that I had really loved. Fire is the only one that really manages to take center stage other than the True World.
Things do come to some rather startling and unexpected conclusions. There is far more heart-pounding excitement in the final book than the others, and the way the day is saved was amazing. A few times we went over the top, but if you're going to go there, an explosive ending is the way to do it.
*I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of this book*
February 4, 2017
“In Truth and Ashes” completes the otherselves series with a story primarily set from the “True World” but with flashes of the other worlds we’ve come to know and love. Belinda is set to be bonded to the somewhat despicable Warren, who she quickly learns has been hooking up with her best friend, Violet. On True World, First Families are those who have otherselves on all mirror worlds and they participate in a binding to other First Families to continue their legacy of having otherselves on all other worlds. Once bound, their otherselves are more likely to fall in love and create the same children they will.
Belinda has been raised by her grandmother Ellona with a severe sense of purpose and duty. As a Loring, one of the First Families, she is expected to be beyond perfect and receives little love in her life. Despite Warren’s infidelity and spoiled boy behaviors, Belinda finds him attractive and thinks that they will be okay- they have to be, as she must uphold her duty. However, at the binding ceremony, the bind backfires- which only happens if one of them is already bound or she is already pregnant. Pregnancy out of the question, her grandmother punishes her for this binding of which Belinda knows nothing.
Belinda’s memory has one gap- when she was kidnapped by Qeturah’s mentor Malachi when she was just six years old. Malachi is a dangerous man, bent on destroying the mirror worlds. Belinda knows that if she is already bound, it must have occurred when she was with Malachi, so she begins the dangerous work of seeking him out to break the binding. She luckily has the help of her long-time and handsome friend, Demian. Demian has always been there for her, and now is no different. She is trying to resist her attraction to him, but it becomes undeniable as they spend more time together.
This is a wonderful conclusion to a really fun series. I found that it moved a lot faster than the previous books, likely because 90% of this one is about Belinda, so you don’t keep jumping back and forth between stories. Leah appears in the other 10% as the fire world is the weakest/one with the most issues. The otherselves appear occasionally for a short couple seconds, but I found that their stories had really been wrapped up in the past books, so it wasn’t necessary- Belinda’s was mostly untold and Leah’s needed to be wrapped up, so they were the perfect ends to the series.
Most of the book is about finding answers for Belinda’s missing memories and saving the world. I wish there had been more tidbits about her past (and current) relationship with Demian- it may have been more fun to start with when they were little, but this would break the pattern of the series. As it is, we have to imagine their history from the little memories we grasp through the book. That being said, I loved their relationship anyways.
Overall, this was a fascinating story of an alternate world told with heroism, love, and hard-work. I really enjoyed it and would love to see some novellas from this series in the future! Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher through netgalley. All opinions are entirely my own.
Belinda has been raised by her grandmother Ellona with a severe sense of purpose and duty. As a Loring, one of the First Families, she is expected to be beyond perfect and receives little love in her life. Despite Warren’s infidelity and spoiled boy behaviors, Belinda finds him attractive and thinks that they will be okay- they have to be, as she must uphold her duty. However, at the binding ceremony, the bind backfires- which only happens if one of them is already bound or she is already pregnant. Pregnancy out of the question, her grandmother punishes her for this binding of which Belinda knows nothing.
Belinda’s memory has one gap- when she was kidnapped by Qeturah’s mentor Malachi when she was just six years old. Malachi is a dangerous man, bent on destroying the mirror worlds. Belinda knows that if she is already bound, it must have occurred when she was with Malachi, so she begins the dangerous work of seeking him out to break the binding. She luckily has the help of her long-time and handsome friend, Demian. Demian has always been there for her, and now is no different. She is trying to resist her attraction to him, but it becomes undeniable as they spend more time together.
This is a wonderful conclusion to a really fun series. I found that it moved a lot faster than the previous books, likely because 90% of this one is about Belinda, so you don’t keep jumping back and forth between stories. Leah appears in the other 10% as the fire world is the weakest/one with the most issues. The otherselves appear occasionally for a short couple seconds, but I found that their stories had really been wrapped up in the past books, so it wasn’t necessary- Belinda’s was mostly untold and Leah’s needed to be wrapped up, so they were the perfect ends to the series.
Most of the book is about finding answers for Belinda’s missing memories and saving the world. I wish there had been more tidbits about her past (and current) relationship with Demian- it may have been more fun to start with when they were little, but this would break the pattern of the series. As it is, we have to imagine their history from the little memories we grasp through the book. That being said, I loved their relationship anyways.
Overall, this was a fascinating story of an alternate world told with heroism, love, and hard-work. I really enjoyed it and would love to see some novellas from this series in the future! Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher through netgalley. All opinions are entirely my own.
February 27, 2023
2.5 Stars
Eh...This was one series that I don't think was for me. It was jumbled, confusing, and seemed rushed.
The third and final book in the Otherselves series, we finally get to visit the True World. When we meet Belinda Loring, she is about to take part in a binding ceremony that will secure her family's place in the First Families. However, before the ritual can be completed something goes horribly wrong - Belinda is bound to someone else. Facing the scorn of her family and society, Belinda goes on a search to find out what exactly happened to her when she was kidnapped many years ago - and just what does the evil Malachi hold over her.
Oh, and during all of this Fire world is collapsing and all of Belinda's "otherselves" are trying to save Leah (Fire self).
See what I mean about jumbled? I honestly don't even know how to describe it so that it makes sense without the summary being a book. Sigh.. let's just try to talk about this one.
I gave this one an extra 1/2 star because it finally did what I wanted the other two books to do - focus on one world. My main issue with this series was the way the information was presented. Combining two completely different world buildings into each book made them lack structure and depth. I didn't care about any of the characters or what happened to them and their worlds. In In Truth and Ashes, we got to know Belinda and her history without it being merged with someone else's.
It was a very interesting and unique concept, but I found it lacking and at the end just didn't care. I just wanted it to end. And the instalove/soul mate thing was beaten to death so much throughout the whole series. (*cough* Leah *cough*)
Side note: Leah was a horrible character. Extremely selfish without giving thought to who she hurt or any consequences to her actions.
I received an e-copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Eh...This was one series that I don't think was for me. It was jumbled, confusing, and seemed rushed.
The third and final book in the Otherselves series, we finally get to visit the True World. When we meet Belinda Loring, she is about to take part in a binding ceremony that will secure her family's place in the First Families. However, before the ritual can be completed something goes horribly wrong - Belinda is bound to someone else. Facing the scorn of her family and society, Belinda goes on a search to find out what exactly happened to her when she was kidnapped many years ago - and just what does the evil Malachi hold over her.
Oh, and during all of this Fire world is collapsing and all of Belinda's "otherselves" are trying to save Leah (Fire self).
See what I mean about jumbled? I honestly don't even know how to describe it so that it makes sense without the summary being a book. Sigh.. let's just try to talk about this one.
I gave this one an extra 1/2 star because it finally did what I wanted the other two books to do - focus on one world. My main issue with this series was the way the information was presented. Combining two completely different world buildings into each book made them lack structure and depth. I didn't care about any of the characters or what happened to them and their worlds. In In Truth and Ashes, we got to know Belinda and her history without it being merged with someone else's.
It was a very interesting and unique concept, but I found it lacking and at the end just didn't care. I just wanted it to end. And the instalove/soul mate thing was beaten to death so much throughout the whole series. (*cough* Leah *cough*)
Side note: Leah was a horrible character. Extremely selfish without giving thought to who she hurt or any consequences to her actions.
I received an e-copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
December 29, 2016
The final installment of the Otherselves series and it mostly takes place in the True World where we meet Belinda. Belinda is from a First Family, basically royalty in the True World. She is to be bonded with a boy chosen by her family. But the bonding process goes terribly wrong and it’s reveal that Belinda is already bonded, something that could only have happened during the time she was kidnapped as a child by Malachi. She sets out to get revenge and brings along her childhood friend Damian.
This third novel in the series is probably the best one if you ask me. I love how a lot of things a put in to place like a puzzle here and things are explained and explored in both the True World but also the four mirror worlds. Belinda’s otherselves are always there in the background and even if their original quests differ they all come to work together to achieve the same goal in the end.
It’s easy to see why the third novel is the best one and in my opinion it’s mostly because it focuses on the same world almost the entire time. This provides enough time to explore the world and dig deeper into the characters. The previous novels have been torn between two worlds and hence also two different plots, making them lack depth. Here we get the best of everything and the writer’s talent really shines in this novel.
If I could have made one wish, it would have been to make this series into five separate books, one for each world. But now we have a trilogy and it is good enough. The worlds I’ve been introduced to in this series are very different and interesting and I would love to explore them even more in future novels.
This series is a great read for anyone interested in YA Fantasy.
This third novel in the series is probably the best one if you ask me. I love how a lot of things a put in to place like a puzzle here and things are explained and explored in both the True World but also the four mirror worlds. Belinda’s otherselves are always there in the background and even if their original quests differ they all come to work together to achieve the same goal in the end.
It’s easy to see why the third novel is the best one and in my opinion it’s mostly because it focuses on the same world almost the entire time. This provides enough time to explore the world and dig deeper into the characters. The previous novels have been torn between two worlds and hence also two different plots, making them lack depth. Here we get the best of everything and the writer’s talent really shines in this novel.
If I could have made one wish, it would have been to make this series into five separate books, one for each world. But now we have a trilogy and it is good enough. The worlds I’ve been introduced to in this series are very different and interesting and I would love to explore them even more in future novels.
This series is a great read for anyone interested in YA Fantasy.
January 3, 2017
Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.
Thanks to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for the opportunity to read and review In Truth and Ashes by Nicole Luiken, the third and last book in the Otherselves trilogy. This last book of the series focuses mainly on the true world and the characters that live there. Since Qetarah was taken care of, her mentor Malachi is the villain trying to get rid of the four worlds. Belinda fell into my heart because of her tyrant of a grandmother and her friend Demian is interestingly mysterious! Nicole Luiken brings all of the information from the last two books and its four worlds seamlessly into In Truth and Ashes to make a complicated world with dynamic and complex characters into a wonderful fantasy adventure series - 4 stars!
Thanks to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for the opportunity to read and review In Truth and Ashes by Nicole Luiken, the third and last book in the Otherselves trilogy. This last book of the series focuses mainly on the true world and the characters that live there. Since Qetarah was taken care of, her mentor Malachi is the villain trying to get rid of the four worlds. Belinda fell into my heart because of her tyrant of a grandmother and her friend Demian is interestingly mysterious! Nicole Luiken brings all of the information from the last two books and its four worlds seamlessly into In Truth and Ashes to make a complicated world with dynamic and complex characters into a wonderful fantasy adventure series - 4 stars!
January 11, 2017
A great ending to a wonderful series. I really hated to see all the set of characters come and go for one last time, it was bittersweet. Everyone makes an appearance in this last book, even if it's only a small glimpse here and there. Of course the main protagonists this time are Belinda and Leah.
Finally we get to see the True World and a lot gets revealed about Aesok and Besok, and the truth about the True and Mirror Worlds. Belinda and Demian/Cade are great in Truth and Ashes, and we even see Leah and Gideon, Holly and Ryan, Audrey and Piers, and Dorotea and Jasper come back to help stop Malachi from destroying the Worlds. And there's a happy ending for all!
Finally we get to see the True World and a lot gets revealed about Aesok and Besok, and the truth about the True and Mirror Worlds. Belinda and Demian/Cade are great in Truth and Ashes, and we even see Leah and Gideon, Holly and Ryan, Audrey and Piers, and Dorotea and Jasper come back to help stop Malachi from destroying the Worlds. And there's a happy ending for all!
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February 21, 20173.5 Stars
In Truth and Ashes is full of unexpected twists, complex relationships, and an epic fantasy world. With memorable characters, romance, and multiple worlds to keep you ensnared, it’s a magical and exhilarating read.
Read more here:
https://youngadultbookmadness.wordpre...
In Truth and Ashes is full of unexpected twists, complex relationships, and an epic fantasy world. With memorable characters, romance, and multiple worlds to keep you ensnared, it’s a magical and exhilarating read.
Read more here:
https://youngadultbookmadness.wordpre...
December 23, 2016
Sorry to say, but this series haven't been for me. I just couldn't care for the characters or the plot. I should have at least been curious as to how it all would wrap up after two books of trying to keep the otherselves of Gideon alive, with Leah trying to talk to her otherselves to help them and also stop the war that Qeturah had began and that his "teacher" kept on after her death, but... no.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews