Unique and Captivating
349821
What a sequel! Yes, all the stories are anecdotal; however, if you have even a shred of common sense and the sixth sense about you, you will find these stories most compelling & reputable.
909973
The attention to detail makes this a fantastic read. Everything the characters experience captured me and I found myself reacting along with them. Quite a unique romance and was glad to have found such an original tale in a sea of similar stories.
19948
Never read a book quite like this one. The characters were originals and quite fun to get to know. The storyline was so unusual and rewarding that I can't even say it made unexpected twists or turns. It simply unfolded beautifully. I recommend it!
106707
In this novel, Akbay manages to transcend three genres all at once - romance, murder mystery, science fiction - and creates two unique stories and atmospheres that seem to be disconnected but blend together beautifully as the narrative progresses. Love and passion, obsession and guilt are intertwined with some acute observations of the human condition as well as subtle but piercing social commentary. I strongly recommend this unique, captivating and original work.
4568492
I downloaded the sample after reading the strong reviews and high star ratings, and was not disappointed.  This was such a unique story, with clever dialogue and references but underneath it all was a deeper story that was slowly unfolding.  I was really touched by this book, the romance and the strong characters.  After reading so many almost "me-too" YA supernatural romance novels, this was a totally refreshing read that did not have to rely on any magical elements.  The only reason for not giving this a 5-star rating is that I figured out early on what was happening, but it didn't detract from the book and I would highly recommend it.
408926
This is not typically the style or genre of book that I would pick up, but I can honestly say it is one of the most captivating storylines I have ever come across. Once I did pick it up, I couldn't put it down - I couldn't wait to find out what happened next (neither could I possibly have guessed), I loved getting to know the characters and parts were written in such a way that I felt I was standing in the middle of the scene myself. A very entertaining, thought provoking read that I would recommend to anyone - well worth getting out of your usual reading comfort zone for.
2104796
Truly a unique book. Once I grasped the distinct writing style, two different narrators, and alternating between past and present tense, I was hooked. Not in a manner that I couldn't put it down, but in an intriguing manner that had me curious of the characters' futures.

The Book Thief tells a story of a girl, who is a book thief, and her foster family who hide a Jewish man in their basement during WWII. She narrates the majority of the book, but another narrator comes in an out of the book periodically - Death, speaking of the souls it collects.

The middle of the book drug on, but overall it's an interesting historical fiction view of Nazi Germany and the humanity that existed despite the hatred.
3729673
Onyx Webb is a unique, bizarre accumulation of Individual tales in three episodes. This book is unlike anything I have ever read. It flows from one person to another smoothly, yet it is disconcerting.

The characters are each intriguing and unique. The authors have well-defined each one in a manner they truly seem real. The scenes are portrayed well through effective, vivid descriptions.

There are several characters involved in various scenarios. They each tell their own story - Their mysterious beginnings, how they met others, what circumstances brought them to the places they end up.

Each tale is captivating and easily visualized, however, The book ending leaves one feeling he/she is missing half the book. It is a continuation but it cuts off too abruptly. It is an eerie combination of romance/thriller/mystery combined. It is a book you will want the sequels to very soon.

*Beware there is profanity.
3973224
Disclaimer: I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Video Review: http://youtu.be/-7KjwHkFAf8

As someone strangely fascinated by fiction involving kidnappings, I was immediately excited to pick up this novel when I first heard about it. After finishing the novel, I would definitely recommend this to people who enjoyed other kidnapping stories, such as Stolen by Lucy Christopher and Still Missing by Chevy Stevens.

I would almost describe this as more of a suspense, rather than a thriller or mystery. The story jumps around in the timeline of the kidnapping, so the reader knows "what happened" and instead is left wondering "why". This story completely grabbed and held my attention. I read the majority of the book in one day, because I did not want to put it down. While there is not much action in the story itself, I would still call this novel a "page-turner" because it reads very quickly and left me burning to pick it up.

The main strength of this novel lies in the choice of narration. The story is told primarily from three unique perspectives: Mia's Mother, the police detective on the kidnapping case, and Mia's kidnapper. I love the fact that Mia does not get to tell her own story, but instead the reader gets to know her through this three external perspectives. I was particularly engrossed by the perspective of her kidnapper, who was a very unique voice in the story.
981361
An intriguing story that had me captivated from the beginning, I really enjoyed the mix of coincidences and escapes. The authors do an excellent job of creating a unique concept and maintaining suspense throughout. The story revolves around Nine, one of the twenty-three orphans, as he struggles to overcome the organization and achieve true freedom. All of the characters are equally well developed and enjoyable. I look forward to finding out what happens next.
2315990
What a unique and captivating story.  Its definitely one of a kind.  It is a cautionary tale through and through with a very fable-esque feel to it.  You can definitely see the battle between morality and the human condition.  Yet at the same time it is a captivating and adventurous fantasy for those of all ages.  Combine this with her very well developed and unique concept of dragons and you have yourself a winner.  West has an eloquent and enjoyable writing style.  I found it easy to follow and this world to get lost in.  This isn't one of those stories where you can read a few chapters here and there.  Once you pick it up you won't be able to put it down again.

I thoroughly enjoyed the way that Markus, the main character, was developed.  He was a multifaceted character without readers finding out everything about him.  At the same time, the way he carries himself I forgot how young he was at times, while at the same time West never makes him seem older than he is.  The agelessness really allows everyone to connect with him.  It was really neat to see this well-developed main character come into his own as an individual and discover his true self.  I really enjoyed getting to know him on his journey.  I was instantly drawn to Markus and Alec.  Their bond is so intense that you cant help but envy it.  I actually felt a connection with more than one of the supporting characters.  They were all such fantastic individuals, and developed as such, that you cant help but enjoy them.  My heart broke for more than one of these characters.

Will I be reading more from this series and from this new-to-me author?  You can bet on it.

Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this work in exchange for an honest review.
2624900
A Beautiful Fate was such a captivating and unique book.  I loved the premise, and that Ava does not discover her history and gifts until the story is well established.  I like it when I'm in the dark right along with the main character, and trying to figure out Ava's talents was intriguing for me.

Ava is a strong and determined character, which always makes for a very satisfying YA novel.  There's nothing I hate more than a weak-minded, indecisive main character who can't speak her mind or stand up for herself.  Ava is none of those things, and I rejoiced in her strength.  Ava has a lot of gumption and seeing her embrace her destiny was my favorite aspect of this book.

There is a good-sized cast of characters in A Beautiful Fate, and each character was well-developed.  I love that!  Minor characters are the icing on the cake when it comes to novels and Mann does a great job establishing characters who are likable and each add to the story in their own way.

As much as I loved the premise and characterization, I was not a big fan of Mann's writing style.  The past and present tense were often mixed, and that made the book read awkwardly for me.  Some of the dialogue didn't flow well, and I didnt' like how Ava was called "Ava Baby" by some of the characters.  That term of endearment felt forced to me.  In the end, these issues were overshadowed by how much I liked the story and the characters.

A Beautiful Fate is a pretty long book, which allowed for a lot of action to the plot, as well as plenty of character growth.  I loved the chemistry between Ava and Ari, and also the slow development to their relationship.  They start out as friends, which always makes the relationship feel very stable and grounded.

There was a pretty big surprise at the end of the book, which took the story in a direction I wasn't expecting.  I'm really looking forward to the next book in the series, A Broken Fate.
2217879
The concept of this story was very interesting two friends being captivated with two individuals only to find that they are one and the same. The characters are similar yet complex at the same time. The story very unique in its development. I truly enjoyed the characters and wished the story had not ended so soon.
603211
This book definitely did its job when it came to taking the reader to a fantasy world filled with wonders and great adventures.

The plot is unique and very different from any I've read before. When you read certain parts, it almost feels as if you're watching a movie instead of reading a story. However, I did feel as if there were parts of the story I would have liked for the author to develop more since I found myself a little confused at times. And I would have liked for more backstory on some of the characters as well.

But the originality of the characters and the story itself. I'm definitely looking forward to reading more from this author
3725996
I really enjoyed this book. The writing style and story kept me hooked and subject something that kept me glued to the last word.  Certainly an out of the box thinker, as I've never come across anything remotely like it. Really captivating, and my thoughts kept going back to the book long after I finished.
3429312
This was a wonderful story. It was one of those books I could not put down. I was sad when I was done. The story was so unique and I loved the way it evolved. This book will stay with me for a while.
2801434
I would recommend this book to anyone. It's unique. It has a lovely cover too. This book is so interesting. It's not like most. And I absolutely adored it. A must read.