Trance (MetaWars #1)

Sep 12, 2012 Kelly Maybedog Hawkins rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: what-modern-fantasy

Debut of another great series from Meding. There are some similarities but not so much that I felt like I was reading the same books with different names. I liked the main character. She was fallible but her self doubt and fears struggled against her increasing belief in herself as she grew stronger throughout the story. She cracked a lot of jokes but was aware that this was a defense mechanism. She also insult people all the time like broken heroines so often do in UF.

I loved her relationship...more Debut of another great series from Meding. There are some similarities but not so much that I felt like I was reading the same books with different names. I liked the main character. She was fallible but her self doubt and fears struggled against her increasing belief in herself as she grew stronger throughout the story. She cracked a lot of jokes but was aware that this was a defense mechanism. She also insult people all the time like broken heroines so often do in UF.

I loved her relationship with the love interest. They respected each other, treated each other well, and recognized one another's strengths. They were complete equals as people and he respected her lead when she was in charge. He was sensitive without being wimpy. (A couple of men cry in this book and it's appropriate and not unmanly at all.) They're relationship isn't as intense and possessive as in the Dreg City series and it's good. It's intimate enough and beautiful.

In general the book wasn't sexist or racist. Although there were not enough people of color, the ones that were there were powerful, brave and emotionally strong. The only annoyingly typical thing was that the people who had been in power previously, both good and bad, were both white men.

Themes of love, trust and redemption were prevalent and nothing was black and white. No one was 100% good and at one point the protagonist had appropriate sympathy for the only person who was 100% bad. I really like that way of thinking and it's a little unusual for traditional superhero stories. (I know that that is changing.)

That was fun, too, reading about ordinary people with extraordinary abilities. I am not big on superhero stories so I'm not the best judge but this felt fresh and original. I really felt these were regular people which I never quite felt with, say, X-men. I just don't get the costumes though. Why do most of them have to be so garish? I did like Trance's though. That I could get behind.

The only real problem I had was with where/how they originally imprisoned the bad guys. It just doesn't make sense to me. I also didn't like the explanation of why big cities were deserted.

I also hate that there weren't any good foster parents, only bad. A child has a hellish time in foster care even with the best foster parents; you can provide angst for a character from their foster care experiences without vilifying us. There are a lot of bad ones but there are a lot more good foster parents out there, people who open their homes to traumatized kids who act out in inappropriate ways. It's hard being a foster parent and most of us do it out of a desire to help, out of compassion.

Okay off my soap box.

Over all the world building worked for me. Again I liked how nothing was black and white throughout the course of the story. This was a good story and an excellent start to the series.
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Oct 21, 2011 Julie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2011

Posted at http://yummymenandkickasschicks.com/?...

“Is Trance anything like her Dreg books?” That is the question I seem to be getting asked the most once people find out that I have read both works from both of Kelly Meding’s series. I thought I would start my review off with a little clarification.

If you have read Kelly’s Dreg City books you are probably going to go into reading this book with a certain level of expectation. I totally understand if you do since her Dreg books are made of awesom...more Posted at http://yummymenandkickasschicks.com/?...

“Is Trance anything like her Dreg books?” That is the question I seem to be getting asked the most once people find out that I have read both works from both of Kelly Meding’s series. I thought I would start my review off with a little clarification.

If you have read Kelly’s Dreg City books you are probably going to go into reading this book with a certain level of expectation. I totally understand if you do since her Dreg books are made of awesome. But let me tell you this: In Trance, you witness Kelly’s extraordinary imagination, you catch a glimpse at her skills at developing characters that draw you in, you recognize her world building skills, you get sucked in by the story…but that’s pretty much where the similarities between her two series end. Do not expect this to be a Dreg-like world or a Dreg-like book. It’s not. Not even close. But honestly, you won’t miss it. Trance will take you on a brand new journey and you will not once think Dreg once you start. You will simply focus on the fact that Trance is a well written book by a talented author. It has super-heroes in it after all. How can you go wrong with that?

Okay, yes, you could go very wrong with that. But Kelly does it beautifully. While reading, I knew I was reading characters and events that were even more unlikely than vampire and wizards but I didn’t feel like I was taken to a place that was so out there, it was un-relatable.

You see, fifteen years ago, super heroes were the norm. People didn’t love it, but it was what it was. There were two distinct types of heroes. You had the Bains – those who would use their powers for naughty things, and you had the Ranger Corps – those who would use their powers to stop the Bains. Eventually, a massive and deadly war broke out between the two groups and the Rangers were on the verge of becoming extinct. Then suddenly, out of the blue, the world went black for all super heroes and their powers simply disappeared. Trance was only 10 when all of this happened. Now, fifteen years later, the heroes’ powers have unexpectedly returned. But Trance didn’t get her original powers like everyone else did. No, she got some messed up version of her grand-mothers powers. And the biggest baddest Bain is out to see all the Rangers killed. *da da duuuummmm*

I can’t say there is a character I didn’t enjoy. Truly. Teresa “Trance” West is fabulous. Thrust into the leader’s role, I found she handled herself wonderfully. She’s not used to being in charge. She has many doubts and second-guesses, but that just makes her a stronger character. She handles herself and the others very well. Overall I found her to be a well-written and well-rounded character. Then there’s Gage (yum) and Renee (she’s a hoot) and Ethan (cute) and William (your strong and silent one). I even enjoyed reading Seward, the medical guy at the Ranger’s facility. And the villain was just crazy! I loved how the villain was written in this book. How you think one thing then another and another until finally, you don’t know what to think. Then the truth comes out and you are left thinking ZOMG! Kelly always writes creepy and thorough villains. I never saw it coming but boy oh boy the suspense made me hate him/her more in the end.

Another thing I found to be well done was the world’s description. Thanks to the Meta war fifteen years prior, most of the American metropolises have been abandoned and destroyed. In the first chapter (and whoa…what a way to suck you into the book!) the war is at its peak and the final face-off is taking place in New York City. Trance is describing her surroundings and says that Gage once told her that the Empire State Building used to stand twice its current size. That is what I enjoy about Kelly’s descriptive process. Very visual and easy to understand and ‘see’. The pace was very good except I found the odd scene here and there near the beginning of the book felt a little long, but not enough to get in the way of my enjoying this read. Once you get past those scenes, it’s pretty much non-stop.

This book is so…cool. I can’t think of a better word to describe it. The world, even though you’ve seen similar in movies and comics, is riveting in print. Trance reads like a stand-alone book – you feel satisfied when you reach the end – but you want to read more because you want to stay with the characters a little longer. Trance is truly endearing and I can’t wait to read more about where her adventures take her.

4.5 stars (less)

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Apr 05, 2012 Nefertiti rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is what bugs me about superheroes. (view spoiler)

I didn't make it to chapter 6 because I was so annoyed. I won't officially rate this book since I admittedly didn't give it a fair shot, but my unofficial rat...more

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Oct 22, 2012 Jenni Ebba rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

What can I say except I love all things superhero!?!?! I've had collections of comic books from the time I could read and Trance is definitely going to my comic book collection of stories. In this unique foray into the world of superheroes and tragic villains, Meding does what she does best- writes a kickass story.
This story takes place approximately fifteen years after Teresa "Trance" West loses her father in the last battle between the Ranger Corps and the deranged Banes. Her father lead th...more

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Jul 22, 2012 Turtles rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy-modern

I remember picking this up at the book store and not being interested in the back summary. Today, I was in the book store and picked up the 2nd book, it looked very interesting. So I went and found the first, and remembered... so I sat down and read the first few chapters. I bought both books. And obviously, I have devoured it!

I enjoyed the author's take on modern day super heroes. It was dark and bleak in places. There was more character death than I liked. But the story was solid, you quickly...more

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Mar 05, 2012 Dark Faerie Tales rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: reviewed-by-kristie

Review Courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales

Quick & Dirty: This superhero Urban Fantasy is complete with enough action and suspense to keep your attention.

Opening Sentence: The bronze man’s head was melting.

The Review:

Trance begins in the middle of a superhero battle between the Ranger Corps and the Banes. The Ranger Corps are basically the Avengers/Justice League, all the good Metas, while the Banes are all the evil Meta humans who have banded together to destroy the Rangers. Metas are humans with...more

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Feb 07, 2012 Cassandra rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

So, I picked this up a while ago, and the only reason I did is because I am a HUGE-FREAKISHLY-HUGE fan of Kelly Meding. I absolutely adore/love/want to hug/possibly spoon with, her Dreg City series.

I think she is brilliant and her books are in the top '5' of my "Hurry up and Get Here RIGHT NOW" list. I've heard word on the street and it's saying I may be a tad impatient. It's a puzzler, I know..

Once I remembered to pick up and read something I bought in October, I was alllll kinds of excited to...more

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Dec 11, 2011 Tynga rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Fifteen years ago, a war between the Metas and the Banes, two supernaturally talented factions, was rapidly destroying the States and the world in its crossfire. When the Banes (the bad guys) were about to win, killing the last Meta children alive, they all suddenly -and painfully- lost their abilities. The Banes were locked up in a mega prison located on Manhattan island and the Meta kids were spread across the States into foster families. The last fifteen years have been really hard on Trance,...more Fifteen years ago, a war between the Metas and the Banes, two supernaturally talented factions, was rapidly destroying the States and the world in its crossfire. When the Banes (the bad guys) were about to win, killing the last Meta children alive, they all suddenly -and painfully- lost their abilities. The Banes were locked up in a mega prison located on Manhattan island and the Meta kids were spread across the States into foster families. The last fifteen years have been really hard on Trance, juggling three job to be able to pay rent and eat, her love life’s a real joke and the future seems no better. Everything changes though when her powers, well the wrong ones actually!, comes back to her. Not knowing what to do, she heads back to the old control base, to meet with her new destiny.

The MetaWars series really remind me of a mix between Xmen & Heroes (the TV show) and as I enjoyed both, I was right in my element with this novel. Kelly Meding created a post-war world where people grew to fear the supernaturally talented beings, even though the Meta helped with rescue mission and such in the past. When they all regain their powers and one of the Banes sets on a quest to kill all the remaining Metas, consequences affecting humans won’t go unnoticed and the big bad needs to be stopped before he kills all the good guys one by one.

It was interesting to see the Metas struggle with their long lost powers and try their best to do the right thing in a battle they barely have any experience of. Trance found herself in leadership position and it’s no an easy task. Worries and insecurities are eating her up, failure after failure doesn’t help her case but this dreadful situation puts her in a position to grow. Gage, Trance’s sidekick and love interest, was extremely interesting. He supports Trance everyway he can, yet he won’t let her get close. The shuts her out, hiding his past and his feelings, and their tug-of-war relationship added to the tension in the novel.

True to every superhero story, the plot moved forward in a goal to eliminate the big bad but the long chain of defeat, surprising twist and turns and unlikely allies, made-up for an interesting chase. The end was like a domino chain effect, everything going down in rapid succession with our heroes lagging to catch up, culminating with an extremely surprising reveal of the mysterious bad guy (who’s identity/location was unknown the whole novel).

This Superhero story is a nice stray from the traditional Urban Fantasy path and even though it won’t make my top 10 favorite series ever, it is a great debut to a new series and I’m looking forward to the second installment, Changeling. Action-packed with just the right amount of romance, Trance will please the superheroes lovers out there!
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Nov 09, 2011 Sara rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 5-stars

Plot: 5 Stars
I love a good urban fantasy that mixes in superheroes and superpowers instead of the paranormal. They only comes around every once and a while, and I've been waiting for a great one like this since I read Black and White by Jackie Kessler & Caitlin Kittredge. The powers that the characters had were very interesting, and I really enjoyed how they often had physical characteristics to match. I also really loved the codenames that the author came up with. Codenames are something th...more Plot: 5 Stars
I love a good urban fantasy that mixes in superheroes and superpowers instead of the paranormal. They only comes around every once and a while, and I've been waiting for a great one like this since I read Black and White by Jackie Kessler & Caitlin Kittredge. The powers that the characters had were very interesting, and I really enjoyed how they often had physical characteristics to match. I also really loved the codenames that the author came up with. Codenames are something that could easily become corny or cliche, but the author really made them fit each character and his or her powers. I also loved how the author wove the history of the MetaWars into the novel. It never felt like a history lesson. Instead, little pieces were brought out just when the reader needed them. And the twists and turns in this novel were epic. I was completely flaberghasted to find out who the bad guy was at the end. I totally didn't see it coming, and I totally can't believe the author went there.

Pace: 4.5 Stars
This novel started out really strong and reeled me right in. The first chapter acted kinda like a prologue, giving the reader a glimpse into the past when the MetaWars originally ended. It was great to see Trance as a child, using her powers to help the other kids as they fought for their lives. There were a few moments that seemed a bit repetitive throughout the novel. There were only so many times the remaining Meta humans could be attacked before you started to see the next attack coming. But even if I had a feeling something bad was going to happen, I was still completely shocked by what actually happened. Once the group started making a bit more progress in finding Spectre, the pace picked up and it was non-stop action until the very end.

Characters: 5 Stars
After the MetaWars, the kids were left without powers and shipped across the country to start over with new families. Many didn't have the greatest times, although some could blend in better than others. When their powers unexpected return, these kids that have now grown up are thrown for a loop but now have a sense of purpose. Trance kinda falls into a leadership position as the Meta humans make their way back to headquarters in LA. She wasn't always comfortable with the position, but she did what needed to be done. Gage was there to back her up every step of the way. I really liked how the two of them interacted throughout the novel. They had a past together as kids and just returned powers to bond over, but it was almost like they were meeting for the first time. The author did a great job of reintroducing the Meta humans to each other and allowing them to bond throughout the chaos.

Cover: 5 Stars
My favorite part of this cover is the orange title, and how it stands out against the purple. The two colors stood out against each other without clashing. The purple was a great choice for the cover considering Trance has natural purple streaks in her hair, and the color starts to take over more of her body after she regains her powers. Normally, I'd want the cover model to keep her natural colors, instead of blending in with such a monochromatic color scheme, but this time it fits the plot perfectly. I also really loved the glowing ball of energy in the cover model's hand. Not only does it give you a superhero/superpower vibe, it's also a power that Trance has. The skyscrapers in the background were a great touch, considering the majority of the novel takes place in Los Angeles.

Overall: 5 Stars

Disclosure: I received an ARC of this novel for review from Pocket Books. (less)

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Nov 06, 2011 Marisa rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: anyone looking for a fun, quick read

Teresa West is a 25 year old nobody, struggling to survive while working 3 dead-end jobs. Out of the blue, powers that she thought were gone forever are back, and then some!

In Kelly Meding's alternate reality, Xmen are real, and are called Meta-Humans. There are good guys, (the Metas) and bad guys (Banes). Teresa, codename Trance, grew up as a Meta. Her family fought against the seemingly evil Banes, until a final showdown which ended with the mysterious loss of superpowers on both sides. After...more Teresa West is a 25 year old nobody, struggling to survive while working 3 dead-end jobs. Out of the blue, powers that she thought were gone forever are back, and then some!

In Kelly Meding's alternate reality, Xmen are real, and are called Meta-Humans. There are good guys, (the Metas) and bad guys (Banes). Teresa, codename Trance, grew up as a Meta. Her family fought against the seemingly evil Banes, until a final showdown which ended with the mysterious loss of superpowers on both sides. After that, she and the other orphaned Meta-kids were divvied out to foster families to be raised as "normal" kids. So Trance trudges through life, until the day her powers return. Well, quite more powerful than she was as a kid.

I wasn't really all that impressed. I like the characterization of Teresa/Trance, in the beginning. By the end of the book I was tired of hearing about how responsible she felt for everyone. I understand that any leader, especially in a military-like unit, has responsibility for their soldiers/followers. But geez, did she really have to labor on about it every time she had to make a decision?

And so many people died! We're introduced to people, and before they even get the chance to develop as characters, they die! Or they disappear (Agent Grayson?).

The love interest is just... tepid? lukewarm? There was no explanation for his behavior, and no rationalization for the twuuu luuuv. It was not convincing.

The villain, and the twist ending was just... I don't know what to call it, cheap? The bad guy did go out of his way to try to explain why he did all that, but I still don't get it. There just wasn't enough motivation in that to explain his actions.

I liked the world; it almost reminded me of the Watchmen in that the public was quite ambivalent of having renegade vigilantes saving the day/tearing up cities in the process. I like the idea of revisionist histories, of the "facts" told to the public not being what really happened. I'd like to read more about this universe, but with better detailed people and more complexity in the relationships.

Just judging by the cover, it looks like another fluff chicklit fantasy along the lines of Tales of an Extraordinary Girl. Inside offers a glimpse of something more, and I can't help but judge the parts that are lacking. (less)

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Oct 19, 2011 Bookaholics rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Trance by Kelly Meding
Urban Fantasy – Oct. 25th, 2011
5 stars

This spectacular new paranormal series is about a world of supercharged humans called Metas. Metas are divided into two groups: those who fight for justice are called Rangers and those who live a life a crime called Banes. The author has written a book that X-Men and Dirk and Steele fans will love.

Teresa was the daughter of the leader of the Rangers. But in one day, her world is changed forever. Her father and his team were killed, and...more Trance by Kelly Meding
Urban Fantasy – Oct. 25th, 2011
5 stars

This spectacular new paranormal series is about a world of supercharged humans called Metas. Metas are divided into two groups: those who fight for justice are called Rangers and those who live a life a crime called Banes. The author has written a book that X-Men and Dirk and Steele fans will love.

Teresa was the daughter of the leader of the Rangers. But in one day, her world is changed forever. Her father and his team were killed, and she and the rest of the young Rangers in training are on the run for survival against the very powerful adult Banes. It is only by a strange chance that she and most of her friends are saved. Before they and their world are annihilated, all Metas mysteriously and suddenly lose their powers.

It is fifteen years later and Teresa lives in a run down apartment working three jobs. The economy is terrible. Alone and pushed from one uncaring foster home to another, she just exists. Until one day at work, she suffers terrible pains. When she wakes up, she finds her hair has changed back to purple, and she has gained new powers. A long time ago, her name was Trace because she could compel/suggest another person by looking into their eyes. But now she even has deadlier powers, similar to her grandmother. Teresa can form powerful fireballs that destroy. She sets out to find the other young Metas from her youth when an old transponder signals that another person has also regained their powers. But someone wants to kill them and she suspects it is their arch-nemesis, Spector who was never found. Spector caused the Meta war by using his mind control powers on the humans and Metas. Spector banded all the Banes and created a terrible force that killed most of the Rangers. As Teresa searches for survivors and tries to find and kill Spector, more tragedy occurs when many of Teresa’s friends are killed. Teresa is running out of time to find Spector, especially since her new powers are unstable and may be killing her…

This was a wonderful story that lovers of superheroes and comic books will be bound to enjoy. Many times I thought the heroine and her mates were at their lowest point only for another tragedy to befall them. The tension in this book is exciting and stressful to read. Often I felt the new Rangers would never overcome the mounting obstacles as more of the heroine’s teammates are murdered by the dreaded Spector. But the courageous heroine doesn’t know when to stop, and it is her determination and sheer will-power that carries this emotional and spellbinding story. I hope the author continues her stories or at least writes a spin off adventure on the other fascinating Rangers.

Ambitious and compelling, this book had me at emotional highs and lows as I sympathized with the gutsy and super-powered heroine.

Reviewed by Steph from the Bookaholics Romance Book Club
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Dec 31, 2011 TheBookSmugglers rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

First Impressions:

Ana: I approached Trance without any real expectations, having heard nothing about the book before and I picked it up on a whim based purely on the blurb and my desire to read a new UF series. I started reading it almost as soon as I bought the book and its opening chapter was super cool and gripping. Although the remainder of the book has its flaws and never exactly lives up the powerful promise of its opening act, Trance was a quick, fast-paced read and I enjoyed it greatly f...more

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Apr 11, 2012 Star (The Bibliophilic Book Blog) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: reviewed

Teresa West has been living an ordinary and boring existence ever since the powers of the Metas were brutally snatched away with no explanation to be found. Now she's working three jobs just to make ends meet and she's still coming up short. Then after one very stressful night, she goes home and is hit with sudden pain. She realizes she has her powers back, but different than before...but is she the only one? She goes off to find the other members of her old team and as they gather, someone else...more

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Jan 23, 2012 Jessica rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: paranormal-scavenger-hunt-2012

Trance was a good book. It started off in the middle of a war scene and you are introduced to these super hero kids who are being hunted by these supervillians and something out of the ordinary happens to them. Then it jumps to ten years later and you find out that all these superhumans lost their powers and had to figure out how to live normal lives, seperated from both their powers and their friends. They had to grow up in the foster system as freaks who were blamed for the loss of lives of so...more

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Aug 19, 2012 Jen (Red Hot Books) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Boy, Kelly Meding sure does love to kill her characters. Seriously, no one was safe in this action packed Urban Fantasy that kept me guessing all the way to the very end.

The story centers on the title character, Trance. She was born a Meta, a human with super-powers. She trained as a child to become a Ranger --one of the "good guys" who protected the world from the Banes (Metas who would use their powers for evil.) When she was only 10, nearly all of the Rangers were wiped out in a brutal war wi...more Boy, Kelly Meding sure does love to kill her characters. Seriously, no one was safe in this action packed Urban Fantasy that kept me guessing all the way to the very end.

The story centers on the title character, Trance. She was born a Meta, a human with super-powers. She trained as a child to become a Ranger --one of the "good guys" who protected the world from the Banes (Metas who would use their powers for evil.) When she was only 10, nearly all of the Rangers were wiped out in a brutal war with the enemy. She and a handful of other children were the only Rangers who survived. But somehow, they lost their powers that day. The kids who were once a team, were separated and placed into the foster system to grow up as "regular" kids.

15 years later, Trance is barely scraping by. She's an ex-con. She's working three dead-end jobs and she can barely keep a roof over her head. Then, out of nowhere, her powers return. Scratch that. She gets all new, super-charged, bad-ass powers that made her old abilities look like child's play. Trance realizes that if her powers are back, it stands to reason that the other Metas are probably charging up too... that includes the Banes imprisoned in New York all these years. She sets out to find her old team --and doesn't get far before the old Bane leader attacks.

Trance survives, but not everyone is as lucky. The villain is picking off the team, one by one. By the time they all get together, only half are left alive. Then, it's a race to see if they can track down the Big Bad before he manages to kill them all. I did say that a lot of people die in this book, right?

I liked the story a lot. The characters were interesting and well-fleshed out. The story was unpredictable and frankly, I had no idea who the villain was until Meding's big reveal. And then, it made total sense. The world-building was fantastic and had kind-of a Watchmen-esque feel to it. But it was no copycat.

There is a romance too. (*sigh*) Gage, one of Trance's fellow Rangers, has a connection with her from the very beginning. Despite their emotional baggage, the spark turns into an all out flame. And honestly, I spent the whole second half of the book in fear that Meding would kill him off. (I won't tell you if she did.) I will tell you that we get a bit of sexy time which provided some much-needed distraction from the barrage of action.

The relationship moves a bit fast. In fact, if I have one complaint, it's that the whole story moves a bit fast. I think the events all manage to take place inside of a week or so and it's a lot crammed into a very small window of time. I guess the frenetic pace adds something to already overwhelming nature of what's happening to Trance, but drawing it out a little would have made her personal growth, as a woman and a leader, more believable. Ditto for the relationship between her and Gage, and the one between William and Renee.

Overall, though, I enjoyed the story. I can't wait to jump into book 2, though, people have already told me that the shocks keep on coming. I'm scared.(less)

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Jun 18, 2012 Ellen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal-series, futuristic-series, romance-series

OMG!!

Superhero stories and romance rarely mix well. This mixed with awesome and came out excellent. It is more on the urban fantasy side of things as it's in first person POV and the romance isn't the main point - but they main character will change in each book (to the best of my knowledge).

Realistic, in that the Ranger and Banes fighting has destroyed cities, ruined LA and did cause Act of Meta insurance to be in favor. Also devastating ((view spoiler)...more

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Jan 19, 2012 Kat Lewis rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I picked up Trance with the hope of it being a fun read. That's what I wanted, and that's exactly what I got, so if that's what you want, your search has ended, and I definitely endorse Trance as a read. Is it perfect? No, but it does have some great points.

Naturally and not particularly surprising, the best part of the book is the plot. The book starts on a tense scene while a group of metahuman kids attempt to take on the Banes (the bad guys.) And then suddenly everyone loses their powers. Pe...more I picked up Trance with the hope of it being a fun read. That's what I wanted, and that's exactly what I got, so if that's what you want, your search has ended, and I definitely endorse Trance as a read. Is it perfect? No, but it does have some great points.

Naturally and not particularly surprising, the best part of the book is the plot. The book starts on a tense scene while a group of metahuman kids attempt to take on the Banes (the bad guys.) And then suddenly everyone loses their powers. Perfect, I love when books spell out their plots and make me want to see the resolution. Why did everyone lose their powers, and more curiously, why did they suddenly get them back? The plot is really brought to life by Meding's other great strength: worldbuilding. The post metawar world is not a nice place, but more importantly it really ups the complexity. The media is all over their reapperance. Reactions are complicated to put it mildly, which puts them in the awkward position of dealing with politics both from the government and their own internal conflicts.

Drawbacks? Have you read urban fantasy? Then a lot of it is going to look pretty familiar to you. Like pretty much all Urban Fantasy's Protagonists Teresa starts off as your average down on her luck waitress who struggles to pay her bills because UF protags always have dead end jobs, no money, and troubled pasts. However he life pulls a one-eighty, and she soon ends up manifesting a set of powers--not her old powers, but a new set which makes her one of the most powerful metas on the planet. Newly repowered the metas assemble at an old base while they find themselves being targeted by Spectre, the Big Bad Bane who started the meta wars. Able to mentally posess anyone, the new Ranger team has to confront and kill their loved ones and people guilty of nothing more than being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Spectre is a fantastic villain who is capable of driving the strong central conflict, and he clearly enjoys messing with the Rangers because there's nothing they can do about it. But, and this is my big issue, his plan is really, really stupid. Even though the why everything gets neatly laid out in the end, it still seems awkward and clunky.

So what keeps this novel from being really great? Brash, temperamental, Massive Trust Issues, but ferociously protecting that heart of gold as I've said she'll be familiar. Not a bad thing necessarily sometimes you need a difficult pigheaded heroine! But the rest of the cast falls flat. The Rangers are all Good with a capital G and not mention Nice. Despite the implied struggles after the power loss, it doesn't seem to have had any long lasting effects. They're all good, polite, people. Even the most morally ambiguous characters are chagrined in all the right places and confess casually to things they worked hard to keep hidden previously. They connections and relationships seem contrived and artificial. Teresa immediately rebonds with her childhood best friend that she hasn't seen in fifteen years like nothing happened although they're practically polar opposites. Wut?

Characters fall in and out of love, die, and disappear without leaving much of an emotional impact on the other characters or the reader. They don't seem to have really high emotinal stakes at all. The return of their powers is treated with general nonchalance and even at what was supposed to be one of the book's most emotional reveals reads more along the lines of a weather report. It doesn't help that the dialogue often seems contrived and unnatural, written so that the reader can get exposition or to set up a one liner. It smooths out as the book goes on probably helped by the fact that no one needs to info dump anymore. But do we really need a Hispanic character that randomly replaces words with Spanish? The stereotyping! It hurts!

There are a few things that don't quite match up in the book that probably should have been caught by an editor. It does feel like the first book in a series, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. Once the series finds its feet and breaks away from the pack, it could be great.

(less)

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Oct 28, 2011 Kale rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

It started with an anomaly. A new race of human beyond the known scientific norm came into being. It ended with a war. But before the final blow could be cast and erase any chance for humanity's heroes to overcome the metahuman's bane, their powers were ripped away.

Fifteen years after that fateful day when she was stripped of her superhuman abilities, simultaneously saving and destroying her life, Teresa "Trance" West re-powered. Strangely, Trance didn't receive her original mental talent of hyp...more It started with an anomaly. A new race of human beyond the known scientific norm came into being. It ended with a war. But before the final blow could be cast and erase any chance for humanity's heroes to overcome the metahuman's bane, their powers were ripped away.

Fifteen years after that fateful day when she was stripped of her superhuman abilities, simultaneously saving and destroying her life, Teresa "Trance" West re-powered. Strangely, Trance didn't receive her original mental talent of hypnosis, she acquired a more potent power. The energy enhancing and manipulating skill was certainly new but a definite upgrade. Shocked and confused Teresa does the logical thing and starts her journey back to her last real home, Ranger HQ.

The Ranger Corps were a government sanctioned organization of metahumans, or superly inclined individuals, dedicated to the protection and rescue of non-metas. But West's reinstated gifts signal the end to all other neutralized metas including the Ranger's enemies the Banes. And it looks like the head of their rival faction wants to finish what he started fifteen years ago.

When your arch-nemesis has the ability to be anyone, who can you trust?

Trance was fast-paced and thrilling from the first page to the last. Meding artfully constructs a storyline that will keep you guessing until the end. The hard-to-determine identity of Trance's villain is a real treat for readers who can normally spot the plot from mile away. Medling's characters and world building were wonderful. The concept of superheroes isn't an overdone sect within the urban fantasy genre and lends well to near endless possibilities. Trance's nonstop action and intrigue locked me in and will no doubt do the same for most readers.

I have no negatives. I throughly enjoyed this book, it was interesting and fresh, written well, and truly stayed one step ahead of the reader's plot picking mind to deliver a stunningly surprising end. Trance is one of those books that reinforces the reasons why I read. Pick this one up for the thrill or the joy that only comes from between well written pages.(less)

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Jan 05, 2012 Brenda Demko rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: d-n-f-did-not-finish

After reading the synopsis, I thought Trance would be right up my alley. I really wanted to like this book. However, I did not. Maybe I am not being fair because I didn't actually finish reading it. In my opinion, if you've struggled to read a book and barely make it half way, it is doubtful that the second part will be so wonderful that it will make up for the first half. I have attempted to read Trance so many times, that I have lost count. I don't like to leave books unfinished. This time, I...more

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Nov 04, 2011 Jessica rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Kelly Meding's new series takes off with Trance, in a new kind of place with new characters! Trance has a slight dystopian feel to it, but not entirely. The world is just a different place. Not entirely great, but not horrendous or filled with a lot of new tech.

Things are explained nicely, but basically we have heroes and villains, but something odd happened 15 years ago when Trance, Teresa was just 10 years old, her powers, along with the powers of her friends just disappeared. Teresa than beg...more

Kelly Meding's new series takes off with Trance, in a new kind of place with new characters! Trance has a slight dystopian feel to it, but not entirely. The world is just a different place. Not entirely great, but not horrendous or filled with a lot of new tech.

Things are explained nicely, but basically we have heroes and villains, but something odd happened 15 years ago when Trance, Teresa was just 10 years old, her powers, along with the powers of her friends just disappeared. Teresa than began living a life of a normal human, but her life wasn't anything grand. Until one night her powers suddenly come back, slamming into her like a freight train. Only her powers aren't the same as they were when she was 10. She seems to have gained some of her grandmother's abilities as well.

Feeling compelled to go back to LA where it all ended and started, Teresa is joined by a few of her friends from her childhood. The ones that lived anyway. And Gage is one of them. The boy she had a secret crush on in the past.

I honestly really enjoyed this book, I did have my doubts when I read a so-so review, but it was far better than I expected. We basically have a book with superheroes, but not comic or graphic. Teresa and her friends have superpowers and abilities that they use to help people. Only not all of society likes them, but Teresa and her friends want to change that.

But the big bad guy from their past, the one their parents were trying to fight, is on the loose and taking them out one by one. Diminishing their numbers, Teresa will have to get her act together and get her team together to stop him before there's no one left.

There is a bit of romance sparking between Teresa and Gage that I enjoyed. It wasn't insta love, but it did happen kind of fast, yet they did know each other years ago. Yet they both have their issues that they must each get through so that they can trust the other completely--it's that part I liked. I like the romances that are challenged by one or the other. Sure sometimes the hangups can be annoying, but it is somehow real.

The ending was good! There were some surprising outcomes that I didn't expect, yet one I did have an inkling theory on! But the ending is not the ending, as Teresa says, it's only the beginning, the beginning of a new series!

There were just a few things that made reading a little challenging, Teresa and her friends all have code names, and they go back and forth with referring to one another with them. I got Teresa and Gage's down pretty good, but it was the others that made me pause because I had to remember their other name in order to remember their code name. The other part was some of the politic issues--which weren't a lot--that made it hard to grasp as well. But again, the politics weren't even that big of an issue, it was just some things that also dealt with the Ranger Corps and Meta War history that kind of befuddled me for a bit, but I got over it pretty easily!

Still, LOVE this series now! Not sure if I rate it above her other series or not. It's a tough call! But I will definitely be sticking with this one til its end!

Overall rating 4.5/5 stars(less)

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Sep 07, 2012 Janet rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: dystopian, young-adult

I was hoping for more from the YA superhero novel Trance. I could see how the story could thrill its target demographic - it hits some big teen themes, and has plenty of action- but the heroine and the writing style rubbed me the wrong way. The story follows a group of young superheroes, the last child survivors of 'the good guys' in the Meta War that leveled cities across the US. All Metas mysteriously lost their powers, which ended the war. This novel begins when powers just as mysteriously re...more I was hoping for more from the YA superhero novel Trance. I could see how the story could thrill its target demographic - it hits some big teen themes, and has plenty of action- but the heroine and the writing style rubbed me the wrong way. The story follows a group of young superheroes, the last child survivors of 'the good guys' in the Meta War that leveled cities across the US. All Metas mysteriously lost their powers, which ended the war. This novel begins when powers just as mysteriously re-appear with the former superkids now in their 20s, scarred by growing up in foster care. Immediate danger from the leader of the Banes (the bad guys) sends them scurrying back to their old HQ to pick up the fight once again.

I tried but I didn't connect to Trance or the superhero team. Okay, maybe a group of 20-somethings would choose their youngest member simply based on power and not leadership ability, but I just couldn't buy it that the ATF and the rest of the government would relinquish control over managing and action planning for newly reactivated superheroes to a juvenile delinquent. The adults were oddly passive for military professionals, serving simply as financial/medical support, and as suspects. While YA novels often make adults peripheral, in this case it went a bit too far for believability for me.

A lot that would have been interesting about the post-Meta-War world was ignored on favor of myopic focus on the stereotypical emo teen mix - guilt, self-doubt, feeling put-upon (no one else can understand us), her crush. The superhero characters were supposed to be mid-20s to 30, but they're really teenagers (kind of like how Hannah Montana girls don't act like 'real' high schoolers). No one displayed adult skills, perspective or self-confidence. You weren't shown how any of the characters had grown up after losing their powers - they're simply picking up where they left off, even with the same crushes on one another. For a group of kids who had been spoon-fed saving the world as children, they were surprisingly self-absorbed, mostly concerned (rightly, but not particularly impressively) with their own feelings, their own stories, their own survival. I think this self-absorption was accentuated by clunky prose, overburdened with Trance talking to herself within her own mind. You know, it's funny, how essentially the same decision - to refuse to endanger someone you love, even if it risks the rest of the world - can seem noble (Doctor Who) or sickly (my crush is more important than anything else, me me me,it's all about me and how I feel). We love and admire the superheroes who pick and stick with a code of morality (true of all the big comic book heroes). Struggle and self-sacrifice for others or for the greater good is what makes them heroic. I can respect Meding's characters' fighting for survival and not giving up, but that's not the same thing as greatness, or heroism. Honestly I didn't feel that Trace with powers was anything greater than Trace without, struggling with three dead-end jobs - just two different cases of barely having time to think beyond trying to survive.

Trance and her team have a few successes, but for most of the story they flail and react to enemy action. Granted, it takes strength to keep going at all in the face of so much death and destruction, but it irked me that they don't solve anything - the central important whodunit is simply revealed by events. And there is so much passivity (people simply being caught) at the climax that it made my teeth ache. In my mind part of the whole point of teen superheroes is that young people can break out of passivity, of stuff happening to them and only having the power to emote about it, and can instead act, make choices, be decisive, be powerful. Despite their powers, these superheroes never felt powerful to me. (less)

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Jan 18, 2012 Rekall rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: female-mc, adult, 1st-person-pov, urban-fantasy, female-author

This is the first novel by this author and I wasn't disappointed. Meding's writing style is one that's very entertaining and her secondary cast of the characters in particular are enjoyable.

The story isn't perfect, but it involves super powers and there are few things more awesome than that. It's a refreshing change from urban fantasies that are all about vampires, werewolves and other supernatural creatures.

One of problems with the story that I had is all the characters ended up with such crumm...more

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Nov 29, 2011 Allison (The Allure of Books) rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: adult-paranormal, 2011

Trance by Kelly Meding has an awesome opener:

The bronze man’s head was melting. It oozed fat splats of liquid metal and swirled down the front of his old-fashioned suit jacket to puddle at his feet. Some of it hit the bronze duck below him, adding layers of new metal that mutated it into a nightmarish goose.

A man’s head is melting? A nightmarish goose? Consider me intrigued. The beginning of Trance definitely reeled me in very quickly – it was easy to start caring about Teresa West, code name Tr...more Trance by Kelly Meding has an awesome opener:

The bronze man’s head was melting. It oozed fat splats of liquid metal and swirled down the front of his old-fashioned suit jacket to puddle at his feet. Some of it hit the bronze duck below him, adding layers of new metal that mutated it into a nightmarish goose.

A man’s head is melting? A nightmarish goose? Consider me intrigued. The beginning of Trance definitely reeled me in very quickly – it was easy to start caring about Teresa West, code name Trace. Yes – I said code name y’all. In the coolest, X-Men, superhero way possible. Teresa and the friends she grew up with (but was eventually separated from) reunite when their powers return to them after having disappeared for over a decade. Enter danger and chaos.

So, obviously I think several things about Trance are pretty awesome. Unfortunately…I had a lot of problems with it too. While I enjoyed all the characters’ personalities, once they start communicating with each other things go downhill fast. I thought the dialogue was awkward and I never felt any actual connections or emotions (platonic or romantic). Teresa quickly develops a relationship with Gage, and I did want them to be together – but I never got the vibes. I just could not find a way to get into the writing style.

This is Kelly Meding’s second series, so I was definitely expecting a lot more skill from her on those counts. Seriously disappointing, definitely held the book back. Of course, it is possible that my failure to connect with her writing is some personal preference versus an actual lack of writing ability on her part.

Plus…they are all supposed to be mid-20s to early-30s. I’m not buying it. I know several years of limbo between childhood and the time of the story was necessary for the plot line, but I still think they should have come back together as teenagers. Mainly because that is exactly what they acted like. Besides the sexytimes, I never felt like any of the characters acted like adults. Plenty of YA books bring the sexytimes though, so I really think this book would have been executed more successfully as a young adult novel.

The easiest way to explain my feelings for Trance is to just say that the plot and synopsis are majorly cool but the writing execution and lack of characterization work like an anchor, keeping it from being a really notable read. Definitely makes me wary of picking up anything Kelly Meding writes in the future.

I am curious to know if my thoughts about the writing are shared by anyone else – so if you’ve read this, let me know what you think!(less)

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Oct 23, 2011 Kristin rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: urban-fantasy

This is the first book by Kelly Meding's that I have read and I must say that I am a huge fan of hers right now. This book is pretty much like X-men but so much better. There are Meta's who are humans with super powers and there is both a good side (Ranger Corp) and a bad side (Banes) within the superhuman race.

The book starts off with the final battle between the Banes and Ranger Corp 15 years ago, the day the Meta's lost their power. It took me a minute to get my bearing because the book star...more

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Oct 21, 2011 Shelleyrae at Book'd Out rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I have had Kelly Medding's Dreg City series on my TBR list for a while but haven't had the time to squeeze much recreational reading into my schedule for a while now. When the opportunity to start her new series MetaWars came up I was excited to take it.
Trance introduces the Ranger Corps and the Banes, humans with amazing superpowers collectively known as Meta's whose battles devastated the world until just as the Banes threatened to win the war, their abilities were ripped from them. Trance wa...more I have had Kelly Medding's Dreg City series on my TBR list for a while but haven't had the time to squeeze much recreational reading into my schedule for a while now. When the opportunity to start her new series MetaWars came up I was excited to take it.
Trance introduces the Ranger Corps and the Banes, humans with amazing superpowers collectively known as Meta's whose battles devastated the world until just as the Banes threatened to win the war, their abilities were ripped from them. Trance was just ten when it happened, one of only a dozen or so Meta's to survive. Now, fifteen years later the abilities of the Meta's are inexplicably restored though Trance seems to have gained her grandmother's skills rather than her own power. A reunion with the her childhood meta friends is marred by murderous attacks and it becomes obvious that Specter, the leader of the Banes, has also regained his ability and is targeting them. Trance and the reformed Ranger Corps needs to find and stop him before he unleashes Armageddon.
I like that Medding has pushed Urban Fantasy into a new realm with her band of superheroes. A cross between Xmen, The Incredibles and The Justice League of America, Trance is an action packed adventure with a touch of romance in a post apocalyptic urban setting. I'm not sure there is anything particularly new about the world the author has created but it is well described and detailed.
The characters in Trance are well drawn and developed. Trance is a likeable mixture of vulnerability and strength. For fifteen years she has struggled with the loss of her family, her powers and made some bad choices along the way. She wants to do the right thing but she is insecure and frightened of making things worse. The attrition rate in this novel is unusual, several supporting characters we meet that you might expect will become part of the series cast are killed. Those that survive the skirmish in this book are interesting though and include the effervescent Renee AKA Flex, the troubled Ethan and Trance's childhood crush, now lover, Gage. Medding does a good job of obscuring the villains identity adding to the tension and excitement of the storyline and the ending, while a great lead in to the next book, also completes the story so you aren't left with a frustrating cliffhanger.
A quick and easy read, Trance is a fun and exciting story which will especially appeal to fans of superheroes and Marvel comics.(less)

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Nov 08, 2011 David rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: any one whom like the world of the super heroes

Recommended to David by: Good Reads First Reads

Shelves: favorites, recomend

A GoodReads FirstReads I won.

Okay I just started reading this book and so for I like it.
It appears to be coming from the memory of Teresa aka Trance.
and her short life as a Ranger in training fighting against the Bane Meta.I criminal minded group of Meta.
Okay a little more about the Meta. these people are humans with superpowers, these can range from many different things like with Trance she has the power to hypnotize people but she has to be close range.
Gage has super senses, Marco is a shape...more

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Oct 25, 2011 Penelope rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book is like superhero mayhem. If you grew up watching X-Men, and wanted to know what would happen if they ever lost a fight to the bad guys, this is it. The world is being ravaged by the bad guys, and in the ultimate fight against good and evil, the good guys lose. All the superheroes are killed, leaving only their children, the last of the good guys, to defend the city. Then suddenly everyone--good and evil-- mysteriously loses their powers.

Fast forward 15 years later, and our story begin...more This book is like superhero mayhem. If you grew up watching X-Men, and wanted to know what would happen if they ever lost a fight to the bad guys, this is it. The world is being ravaged by the bad guys, and in the ultimate fight against good and evil, the good guys lose. All the superheroes are killed, leaving only their children, the last of the good guys, to defend the city. Then suddenly everyone--good and evil-- mysteriously loses their powers.

Fast forward 15 years later, and our story begins when the powers suddenly return.

And boy, is this one awesomely dangerous roller coaster ride. No character is safe. Stakes are high. Lots of people die. I felt the impact of each death, as the last of the superheroes are picked off one-by-one, to prevent them from forming a resistance. I felt the frustration Trance felt as she searches for the one responsible for the deaths. I felt her desire to put an end to the war once and for all. And I felt her desperate need to ensure the safety of the other Rangers.

The world Kelly Meding has created is full of imagination and possibilities. There is so much that went into it, but it never felt too contrived. Meding places back story where it is needed, and is descriptive enough in the right places, to make it all feel very natural.

The characters are just plain awesome. That's the best way to describe them. They draw you in and make you invested in their well-being. You will find yourself rooting for them, just as I did, and you will find yourself gasping and yelling "NO!" when bad things happen. Because Like I said: no character is safe. Just when you think they've hit rock bottom, the floor crumbles once again. The best parts of the story are the parts where the Rangers are fighting together and saving lives, superhero style; the camaraderie between them, and their understanding of each other, is just plain uplifting. These moments made me feel joy and excitement; proud that as a reader, I had been able to experience them right along with the characters.

The only problem I found is that it seemed to be kind of long. The pacing was fine for the most part, but I began to get antsy towards the end, wanting to reach the conclusion. I needed to know who the bad guy was, and I had no idea who it was until it was revealed (and oh my goodness, the bad guy).

This book is very cool; full of action, guts, and heartbreak. I'll be picking up the next book the moment it is released. And while it is definitely not YA (see my content warning below), I highly recommend it to adults and mature teens who want to read a strong urban fantasy.

Read this if:
...you grew up with X-Men, and want a book that feels like an old friend the first time you read it.

This review was originally published on my blog. See it at The Reading Fever.

*I was provided with an ecopy of this book in exchange for an honest review.(less)

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Oct 28, 2011 Carmel (Rabid Reads) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Reviewed by: Rabid Reads

I debated for a long time whether I should pass on this one or not. The post-war, sci-fi blurb had me leaning more towards not reading it. However, when I was presented with the opportunity to read it for free and after discussing its merits with a fellow blogger, I opted to give it a go. I'm happy to report that my time spent reading Trance was not wasted! This is the first book in Kelly Meding's promising new MetaWars series. Trance is like grown-up version of The Incre...more

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Nov 01, 2011 Jess the Romanceaholic rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: galleygrab, paranormal-romance, psychic, urban-fantasy, 2011-read, steam-level-steamy, orphan, major-character-death, major-illness-or-injury, betrayal, superhero

This is a Quickie Review. For the full review, please visit The Romanceaholic.com.

Expected Release Date: October 25, 2011 (Available Now!)
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Imprint: Pocket Books
Author’s Website: http://www.kellymeding.com/
My Source for This Book: GalleyGrab
Part of a Series: Yes, Book 1, MetaWars
Series Best Read In Order: N/A
Steam Level: Steamy

Channeling the same spirit behind the popular X-Men universe with subtle nods to Disney's The Incredibles, this first installment into the Met...more

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Apr 02, 2012 Dawn rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012-books, urban-fantasy

When I saw Kelly Meding had a new series about super heroes I was into it and could not wait to read it.

The story begins 15 years ago when Teresa "Trance" is running for her life and the Rangers, good guy super heroes, are loosing the battle to the bad guys, Banes. Then all at once everyone looses their powers. Then fifteen years later, all of the Rangers died that night... well except twelve kids. Trance is living a dead end existence, her life has been crap she has no money and works three job...more When I saw Kelly Meding had a new series about super heroes I was into it and could not wait to read it.

The story begins 15 years ago when Teresa "Trance" is running for her life and the Rangers, good guy super heroes, are loosing the battle to the bad guys, Banes. Then all at once everyone looses their powers. Then fifteen years later, all of the Rangers died that night... well except twelve kids. Trance is living a dead end existence, her life has been crap she has no money and works three jobs. The one night for no reason her powers return, actually everyone's power returns and the war begins again.

The good things about this book were the characters. I actually liked Trance she has had a hard life and is trying to make it better as are all the other Ranger kids. I also loved the concept come on superheroes beyond Batman what is not to like.

This is where the book begins to fall apart for me. The book is supposed to take place 100 years from now and I think the population is really low but that is all I know about it. The geek in me wants to know about technology and food and travel. Cars that run off of water, corn oil something.

The next thing that threw me is you have twelve people whose lives have been in turmoil since the day of the fight. They get a chirp on the vox and everyone comes running. They all want to fight and possibly die. There is no resistance or internal struggles, it is like yeah lets pick up where we left off so our lives can have value?? Really?? What happened to bitterness and the screw you?

Then we have these side love interest stories which was nice but really what was the attraction? The book takes place in a week you fall for a man you have not seen in 15 years and there is no passion, just we have issues but we love each other. It was also weird that no one had tried to seek the others out in the in between years.

While the plot and action moves swiftly there was something off for me and I kept fading out and not caring. This book took me almost three weeks because I kept picking up other things I thought were more interesting. In the end there were just a lot of bumps and the book ended up being ok.(less)

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title link	preview: Trance
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Trance (MetaWars #1)

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