Altered (Crewel World, #2) in Sophomore Reading Challenge

Jun 20, 2013 Jen Ryland (jenrylandreviews & yaallday) added it · review of another edition

Shelves: atw-tour, arcs, series-i-am-putting-on-hold

*I borrowed an ARC of Altered through Around the World ARC Tours*

Crewel, book one in this series, was set in Arras, a place where an all-male Guild held the political power while female Spinsters had the ability to weave time and matter. I loved Crewel's creative concept and fantasy-meets-fairy-tale setting. The book ended with an intriguing plot twist that made it seem like the series was headed in a different direction.

Okay, so I guess given the ending of book one, I should have been forewarne *I borrowed an ARC of Altered through Around the World ARC Tours*

Crewel, book one in this series, was set in Arras, a place where an all-male Guild held the political power while female Spinsters had the ability to weave time and matter. I loved Crewel's creative concept and fantasy-meets-fairy-tale setting. The book ended with an intriguing plot twist that made it seem like the series was headed in a different direction.

Okay, so I guess given the ending of book one, I should have been forewarned that Big Changes were coming. But to me, reading Altered felt a little disorienting, more like starting a whole new series. Instead of Spinsters and the Guild, we now have futuristic Sunrunners and an Agenda and some zombie-like characters called Remants. Who would have thought I was such a fantasy fan, because I definitely preferred the fanciful Old World fantasy feel of Arras to the harsh, post-apocalyptic setting of Altered. There are a few carry-over characters from Crewel, but most of the characters in Altered had an odd way of popping in and out of the story -- disappearing and reappearing. I was excited about the Remnants and a new villain named Kincaid but wished they'd all been more menacing.

Many of the new ideas and plot developments introduced in Altered seemed to me quite reminiscent of the TV show LOST-- the time manipulation, the two timelines and layers of reality, the mysterious "projects" (the Dharma Initiative in LOST and the Cypress Project in Altered), the rich guy villain Kincaid, and the love triangle. As in the show, some of these aspects of Altered were and a little … out-there. (view spoiler)

Then there's the matter of that pesky love triangle. Though I'm not completely anti-triangle, I wasn't crazy about the whole Adelice-Jost-Erik dynamic in the first book. In Altered, the triangle only intensifies.

Longer review to come on my blog closer to review date. ...more

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Feb 04, 2013 Princess Bookie rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: read2013

My Thoughts: Another cool novel by this author! I enjoyed the first one and I enjoyed this one.

We are back with Adelice and her two boys Jost and Erik. Both boys are so yummy! They are on the run together. Remnants and Cormac (is that his name?) are after them. They escape Arras and end up on Earth. Not long after arriving they meet a guy named Dante. I really liked this new character. He was nice yet brave but also very protective of Adelice. He cared about her. Didn’t want to see anything bad My Thoughts: Another cool novel by this author! I enjoyed the first one and I enjoyed this one.

We are back with Adelice and her two boys Jost and Erik. Both boys are so yummy! They are on the run together. Remnants and Cormac (is that his name?) are after them. They escape Arras and end up on Earth. Not long after arriving they meet a guy named Dante. I really liked this new character. He was nice yet brave but also very protective of Adelice. He cared about her. Didn’t want to see anything bad happen to her.

Adelice and the boys spend most of the book trying to please the new guy in charge. Instead of having to deal with Cormac they know have to deal with Kincaid. Ick. He’s just as bad but tends to hide it better. He comes off as nice but in reality he’s a jerk too.

I don’t know what to say about this one. It was completely different than Crewel but not in bad way. It focused more on what was going on instead of the spinsters. Time also moves differently on Earth. Adelice wants to get her sister back while Jost wants to get his daughter. Everyone has an agenda it seems, a goal, a mission.

And the love triangle, wow! I don’t know who I like more. Jost and Erik are both so darn hot and irresistible. They are both such great guys! They are so different but each one of them cares deeply about Adelice.

It also seems like all the characters have changed, for the better. They have gotten stronger, smarter, and braver.

I liked what was going on in this one, I loved the characters and their blossoming relationships. I liked where things are going but of course we get another major cliffhanger! After reading this, I just want the next one; plain and simple!

Overall: I can’t wait to see more of Jost and Erik! I need them in my life right now. I want to see what is going to happen. And I like her with both boys! Oh no! I really loved this one and can’t wait to see what happens next!

Cover: I like it! The girl looks tough! Totally reminds me of her!

What I'd Give It: 4/5 Cupcakes
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Taken From Princess Bookie
www.princessbookie.com ...more

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