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Asunder (Newsoul #2)

by Jodi Meadows (Goodreads Author)

4.02 of 5 stars 4.02 · rating details · 1,284 ratings · 304 reviews

DARKSOULS
Ana has always been the only one. Asunder. Apart. But after Templedark, when many residents of Heart were lost forever, some hold Ana responsible for the darksouls–and the newsouls who may be born in their place.

SHADOWS
Many are afraid of Ana’s presence, a constant reminder of unstoppable changes and the unknown. When sylph begin behaving differently toward her and...more

Hardcover, 406 pages

Published January 29th 2013 by Katherine Tegen Books

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Mar 16, 2013 fяσzєη rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: covergasm, owned-physical-copies, all-time-faves, 2013-faves, amazing-authors, believable-romance, books-i-want-to-marry, creatively-original, deserves-the-hype, faves, wish-i-could-write-like-that

This review is also available over at my blog.

_________________________

Actual rating is 4.5 stars.

I can't decide whether this book is equally as good as its predecessor, or is better. There are a lot of new things brought to the table, but overall this one was very similar to the first, in that it focuses more on the characters. And I like that, even though I've said that I really would love to see more of the world outside of the city of Heart, and explore more of Range and see more of the myth...more This review is also available over at my blog.

_________________________

Actual rating is 4.5 stars.

I can't decide whether this book is equally as good as its predecessor, or is better. There are a lot of new things brought to the table, but overall this one was very similar to the first, in that it focuses more on the characters. And I like that, even though I've said that I really would love to see more of the world outside of the city of Heart, and explore more of Range and see more of the mythical creatures that were only just mentioned. I have a feeling that will happen in the third book, though. I'd love a huge, explosive finale, even more so than the first book's ending.

I truly adore Jodi Meadows' writing. Really. Usually when I'm reading I tend to skim through little parts here and there, but her writing to me is unskimmable. It makes me want to soak up every word. If writing had flavors, I'd imagine hers would taste like honey.

I don't really have much to say about the characters, but I do love the romance between Ana and Sam. I feel like the pace is just right, and the moments they have together feel genuine and far from forced. There are many cheesy moments between them that made me chuckle, sure, but they didn't ruin anything. Sam confesses his love for Ana in this book, and I love how Ana really takes a long time to say it back to him, because she was never sure if she was capable of love or being loved. And I love that Sam was patient with her and understood. I just think the romance in this series overall is sweet and genuine, with a decently slow pace. But there's a lot of drama involving Sam and a few other characters in this one. Drama I didn't really care much about, to be honest, cause I was too invested on everything else that was going on.

Speaking of which, I absolutely adored where the plot went in this book. I was especially giddy on chapter 8, because the one thing I wanted to happen, happened, and was executed well. I mentioned in my review of the first book that I would love to find out more about how the reincarnation worked and more about the newsouls and the sylph, etc, and this book gave it to me. It answered a lot of my questions rather than confuse me any further. The revelation about the sylph was kind of predictable, because I noticed many hints in the previous pages, but I was still happy with it.

I guess I'd say that this book is slightly better than the first simply because my questions were answered, and my expectations were met. I'm really excited for the third and final installment of this series, because I have a feeling the story won't be taking place inside the walls of Heart anymore. And shit will go down.(less)

65 likes · like · see review

Jun 07, 2012 Jodi Meadows added it · (Review from the author)

Shelves: books-i-wrote

The chapter headers have roses. The scene breaks at the top/bottom of the pages have itty roses.

52 likes · like · see review

Feb 07, 2013 Brad rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc-own, 2012-favorites

ASUNDER is a stunning sequel with a great plot and surprises at every turn. Jodi Meadows is a master of stories!

If you don't know this about me, INCARNATE (book one) is my favorite book of all time. ALL. TIME. So when I got ASUNDER in the mail as a RAK, I was freaking out and started reading immediately. I was sucked back into the world of Range and all of its inhabitants: speaking of which, the sylph were super eerie in this book! I don't see how Meadows managed to make them even more spookier,...more ASUNDER is a stunning sequel with a great plot and surprises at every turn. Jodi Meadows is a master of stories!

If you don't know this about me, INCARNATE (book one) is my favorite book of all time. ALL. TIME. So when I got ASUNDER in the mail as a RAK, I was freaking out and started reading immediately. I was sucked back into the world of Range and all of its inhabitants: speaking of which, the sylph were super eerie in this book! I don't see how Meadows managed to make them even more spookier, but she pulled it off excellently.

Ana? She became such a fierce and kick-butt character in this sequel. I will admit that she does have her flaws in book one, but oh my, she absolutely redeems herself in ASUNDER. And Sam is just so nice to Ana, it makes even more cooler in my book. Plus, anything with piano/music in books adds extra bonus points for me, and Ana and Sam do duets in the book!

But I did have one slight problem: I absolutely adore ASUNDER, but there was something about INCARNATE that gave me some kind of spark of reading-love and hope for other fantasies like it. So I guess I like INCARNATE just a little bit more than ASUNDER.

But please don't get me wrong: ASUNDER is a fantastic sequel. I will admit that I sometimes have troubles with sequels, but I had zero trouble with this one. The writing style was just as great, and the stakes are raised even higher. Speaking of which, THE PROBLEMS ARE RAISED SO MUCH HIGHER IN THIS BOOK. There are a lot of evil and cruel jerks in this book that Jodi Meadows put in there that made me cringe because of how twisted they were, and gosh, they were so evil to Ana and Sam! And because of the ending of INCARNATE, we have a new problem in ASUNDER: newsouls are coming into the world, filling everyone with fear. And let me say that the newsouls are probably my favorite addition to ASUNDER.

And once again, Meadows packs an insane ending! I was on my seat the entire time, because Jodi knows how to write an ending!

Overall, ASUNDER is just as brilliant as its predecessor. I don't know how I'll be able to stand the wait for book three!

(less)

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Jan 22, 2013 Ashley (Nose Graze) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, physical-arc

Asunder by Jodi Meadows - I aimed to be a threat

Book Nook — Young Adult book reviews

I was a little bit nervous going into Asunder because I had some issues with Incarnate, but I ended up liking Asunder even more!

My biggest gripe in Incarnate was the romance. I didn't feel it at all. To be honest, I still wasn't a huge fan of it in Asunder , but since it was already established, I think it was easier for me to accept. It also felt like it had a smaller role in the story. There were still some awkward moments in the book (for example, when A...more

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Mar 09, 2013 ◕ ◡ ◕ Arooj rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: covers-to-die-for, own, favorites, books-i-fell-hard-for

A beautiful installment in the Incarnate series. The concept is just so unique and exciting. I never know what to expect. And there were many surprises in this book. A few parts were kind of uninteresting and slow but overall, I really liked this book.

Also, the cover is breathtaking.

I look forward to the third and last book!

4 likes · like · see review

Apr 19, 2013 Steph Sinclair marked it as maybe-read

Shelves: youre-on-probation, please-dont-disappoint, harpercollins, 2013-release, young-adult, pretty-covers, gave-away

OMG, look at that cover! It is beautiful!

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Feb 11, 2013 ღIsabellaღ rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: omg-fangirling-need-this-book, favorites, kindle-own, re-readable, series, should-be-a-movie, no-love-trianle

OMG THAT COVER
description

OMG SAM!!!!
description

Review
HOLY
Brilliant. Just amazing and brilliant.
Many souls are being very aggressive towards Ana after Temple Dark. They feel like she is responsible for all the dark souls who will no longer be reincarnated.
And Ana is no longer the only new soul.
Anid, the second new soul ever is born. Many people are threatening towards him and Ana. But Ana is determined to protect him and the future new souls.
Ana also ventures into the temple once more. The shocking truth about re...more

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Jan 05, 2013 Jessica (Step Into Fiction) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: arcs, top-30-reads-of-2012, autographed, 5-stars

Review originally posted at Step Into Fiction

I fell in love with Incarnate. I wasn’t sure what to expect from that book and I got sucked in. I just remember some of the things I was tweeting to the author, Jodi Meadows, who I didn’t even know at the time, while reading the book. That’s the first time I’ve ever tweeted an author while reading their book, with my reactions to things, it was entertaining. Especially a specific part of the book… Now, going in to Asunder, I knew this world, these cha...more Review originally posted at Step Into Fiction

I fell in love with Incarnate. I wasn’t sure what to expect from that book and I got sucked in. I just remember some of the things I was tweeting to the author, Jodi Meadows, who I didn’t even know at the time, while reading the book. That’s the first time I’ve ever tweeted an author while reading their book, with my reactions to things, it was entertaining. Especially a specific part of the book… Now, going in to Asunder, I knew this world, these characters and I couldn’t wait to get more. I am satisfied. I am happy. I am sad.

The beginning of Asunder is the people of Heart trying to move on and cope from Templedark, where they lost many of their friends of 5,000 years. Not easy to do. If you’ve lost someone, you know how hard that can be but we didn’t have the pleasure of knowing that person for nearly as long as these people have. Dealing with this kind of permanent loss is impossible. However, they have to deal because no matter what, they won’t be getting those souls back. It’s a very sad time but also an awkward time for Ana because a lot of these people blame her when it was never her fault. But when in doubt, blame the Newsoul/nosoul, right?

This book is filled with love, pain, betrayal, sacrifice, violence and healing all mixed in to one. Ana goes through a lot of hardship in this book, more than the first book, I think. What makes it worse is she’s made plenty of friendships and now she has so much to lose whereas she only had things to gain in Incarnate. The birth of a Newsoul is almost enough to cause a riot in the birthing room and if it’s a sign of things to come, it’s going to be a dangerous path for all newsouls.

One person that Ana can always count on is Sam. He’s never judged her for being a Newsoul even from the very first time he met her. He found her unique and intriguing. It’s easy to misjudge a situation and think the worst of someone. Just keep that in mind…

I really liked Ana from Incarnate. For being so judged and hated on just for whom she is, not someone she could control, she is incredibly strong both in mind and will. I didn’t think I could like her much more but alas, I have been proven wrong. She is a force to be reckoned with. There is so much growth throughout Asunder that I’m in awe. I sit here wondering, is this really the same Ana we met jumping off a cliff in Incarnate? Truly, it’s really her? I love her (in a totally platonic way). Seriously. You’ve Incarnate, right? So there’s no reason you shouldn’t read this. I do love it a lot and the ending…that ending. *sigh* Plus, look at those covers. Aren’t they just breathtakingly beautiful? Butterflies and roses…very important to the story…(less)

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Oct 27, 2012 Hayley marked it as to-read

Shelves: arc

Incarnate is one of my favourite covers ever, this one is kind of ugly...

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Nov 08, 2012 Alexa Yupangco rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-all-stars, books-i-own, signed-books, nyc-favorites-shelf

First Thoughts: I worried at first, but I shouldn't have - Jodi Meadows wrote in a way that made me feel all sorts of FEELINGS.

(Originally posted on the blog)

Asunder did not suffer from the rumoured "second book syndrome" or "sophomore slump"at all - that much I can guarantee. Like another second book in a series that I loved, I thought Asunder was well-written: there is distinct character progression, the reader is given the opportunity to uncover more of the plot and there is a lot of new inf...more First Thoughts: I worried at first, but I shouldn't have - Jodi Meadows wrote in a way that made me feel all sorts of FEELINGS.

(Originally posted on the blog)

Asunder did not suffer from the rumoured "second book syndrome" or "sophomore slump"at all - that much I can guarantee. Like another second book in a series that I loved, I thought Asunder was well-written: there is distinct character progression, the reader is given the opportunity to uncover more of the plot and there is a lot of new information about the world of Heart and its various residents.

It was interesting to see what had and had not changed for Ana after the craziness that ensued in the last book. She had proven that she had a role to play in helping the citizens of Heart, but at the same time, the stark difference between her (as a newsoul) and them (as reincarnated souls) was even more pronounced. Watching her deal with the various reactions to her status - friendship or civil tolerance or curiosity or absolute enmity - was a struggle to me, as I really just wanted her to find her place among the people. The treatment of Ana in this book is a lot harsher than in the first, and it was so, so hard not to want to swoop in and save the day and protect her.

Not only did Ana have to deal with other people, she also had to deal with her own self. Like most people, Ana had doubts about her own self-worth and even her very existence. Most of these feelings and thoughts came from the classical conditioning that she had grown up with, but of course, it didn't help to be in a place where she was the first of her kind and had to figure everything out for herself. It was heartbreaking, anger-inducing and tear-inducing to watch what she had to go through. But by the end of the book, I was proud of her, mistakes and doubts and all, and looking forward to seeing what she decides to do next.

While I do love many of the citizens of Heart, Dossam/Sam is obviously my favorite. He earned the distinction with his swoon-worthy musical capabilities and genuine feelings for Ana in the first book, and this second one has just solidified my feelings for him. He's as patient, and talented, and swoon-worthy, and kind as he is in the first one, only this time, he has to invest more effort and time into figuring out how to handle his relationship with Ana. Though he is by no means perfect at handling the relationship and stumbles once or twice, I thought it added an extra charm and innocence.

Plus, there is a whole lot more going on with Sam and Ana in this book. Real relationships are the ones that can survive through the rockiest or craziest of conflicts. Sam and Ana were certainly put to the test in Asunder, and my opinion is that they totally passed and with flying colors too! They faced some of the most difficult things in this book, including their own personal problems, but they somehow managed to keep it together in spite of it all.

Apart from the romance, there was definitely a lot more new information we discover about Heart, its people and the magical creatures they often encounter. I'm incapable of saying any more about this without spoiling the book, so all I can say is that what Jodi Meadows has created and revealed in this book - well, it's a doozy!

I'm obviously a huge fan of this series, and I definitely enjoyed reading Asunder. While I was initially worried the book would not have the same effect as its predecessor, I am happy to report that I was proven incredibly, incredibly wrong. Asunder had me feeling every single thing and falling in love with Ana's story (and yes, Dossam too) all over again.(less)

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Jan 28, 2013 Julie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013-debuts, arc, books-with-my-name-in-or-on, favorites, for-review, on-my-shelf, at-college, reviewed, finished-copies, signed

So. Many. FEEEEEEEEEEEELS.

First of all, Jodi Meadows has this fantastic way of making readers consider the morals of reincarnation. One million souls who become experts in their area of specialty vs. new souls and their new, though less experienced, ideas? It's a question you have to wonder about in a story like this and I think Jodi has done a tremendous job trying to tackle that question throughout the first two books, and I'm betting the fantastic continues into the next.

Then there's the char...more So. Many. FEEEEEEEEEEEELS.

First of all, Jodi Meadows has this fantastic way of making readers consider the morals of reincarnation. One million souls who become experts in their area of specialty vs. new souls and their new, though less experienced, ideas? It's a question you have to wonder about in a story like this and I think Jodi has done a tremendous job trying to tackle that question throughout the first two books, and I'm betting the fantastic continues into the next.

Then there's the characters. They grow and change and learn so much. Everyone besides Ana has been alive for thousands of years, yet many of them are becoming someone new, someone they've never been before. It's remarkable to imagine people who have been the same, or very similar, for so long suddenly becoming different, all thanks to Ana. Strong, clever, and oh so kind Ana. It's hard not to love her. She's naive at times and make mistakes, but she learns fast and is always improving herself. And Sam. Oh Sam. Pardon me while I swoon? Sam continues to be an incredible love interest in Asunder. And there's also a new character introduced, who I absolutely ADORE, but I won't say anything else. Y'all will find him.

The relationships in Asunder are complex and wonderful and changing. Friendships are growing stronger. Some reveal their true nature. Every relationship evolves in some form and each is significant to the story as a whole. It's always lovely when each part of a book is super important, you know?

Then there is the story itself, where every piece falls into place, entwining perfectly. There's action and mystery and KISSING and just...*sigh* There are no words for the perfection of the story itself. It's pretty much everything I can ask for in a book.

And do I even have to talk about the perf of the writing? I've mention that she weaves an incredible story and introduces a very interesting, complex topic to consider. But she also has such a way with words that I can picture the world really well. I can see it all in my head and it makes sense and I feel like I'm in the story. I'm always utterly swept away and entranced by her words.

If you haven't read Incarnate, why are you reading this anyway? Go buy your copy and rejoice in its beauty. If you have, make sure you pick up Asunder today. This is NOT a sequel that disappoints.

(less)

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Feb 03, 2013 Kimberlee rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: own-on-nook, own, forever-my-favorite, own-in-hardback

INCARNATE was one of my favorite books of 2012, and I am so glad that I am able to say that ASUNDER did not disappoint. As high as my expectations for this book were, it totally surpassed them all.

It didn't take me long to get totally sucked back into Ana's world. I immediately remembered why I loved this world so much. Not only is there amazing world-building in this book (seriously, we find out so much about the sylph and Janan and reincarnation and basically everything??? I love it!) but the...more

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Dec 11, 2012 Kimberly rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, young-adult, fantasy-sf

It's kind of amazing how much more I liked this than the first installment. Everything was stronger: writing, world-building, romance, Ana's characterization. I liked that we learned more about the sylph and got greater insight into Sam (big weaknesses in the first book).

Full review: http://www.stackedbooks.org/2012/11/a...

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Mar 29, 2013 Mythical rated it 5 of 5 stars

Asunder is excellent! I had a bunch of expectations about the quality of the book, all of which were set by the wonder that is Incarnate, and Asunder soared above every one of these expectations. Jodi Meadows’ second book is just as impressive as her first. It picks up right where Incarnate left off, building on the framework set up in Incarnate and still managing to be a book that could be a stand-alone. I discovered more about all the characters, even Ana, and my love for all of them- Sam, Ana...more

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Mar 28, 2013 Kathleen Bruce rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: beautiful-covers, fav-authors-that-can-do-no-wrong, ghosts, reincarnation

I loved Incarnate I thought it was beautiful and heartwarming but also heartbreaking. I knew Asunder was going to be absolutely brilliant but i was a little scared as to what was going to happen to Ana as it is the middle book in a trilogy. I wasn't disapointed! It was as good as maybe even better than Incarnate, but i only say that because we get to understand so much more about the world in Asunder, the beauty and horrors of it.

I have to say I love Ana's character, she is so young compared to...more

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Mar 03, 2013 Whatchyareading added it

Shelves: caitlin, young-adult, series, dystopian

I read Incarnate rather early…I think last August. And thus much of it had flown out of my brain when I started Asunder nearly a year and half later. I did remember that I cried a lot for the sadness of Ana’s life. And that I adored Sam. And there were dragons.

While Asunder had much of the same elements of Ana discovering who she is, it took it a step further with the mystery of reincarnation and Ana’s newness and how the mythical creatures of the world are also involved.

And OH MY GOD. I loved t...more I read Incarnate rather early…I think last August. And thus much of it had flown out of my brain when I started Asunder nearly a year and half later. I did remember that I cried a lot for the sadness of Ana’s life. And that I adored Sam. And there were dragons.

While Asunder had much of the same elements of Ana discovering who she is, it took it a step further with the mystery of reincarnation and Ana’s newness and how the mythical creatures of the world are also involved.

And OH MY GOD. I loved the well….no spoilers…but PHOENIXES!!!! I am soooo excited for the next book when I hope we get ALL THE ANSWERS! And see some Phoenixes!

Sam was still adorable and I loved all of his interactions with Ana. And the drama that he has collected over 5000 years. There were times when I thought maybe it was a little unbelievable but then I remembered FIVE THOUSAND YEARS, and figured they were all do a little drama.

I hated the council and pretty much everyone who wasn’t a friend of Ana’s. I can even kind of see where they are coming from. I mean, we get one life (as far as we know) and death generally scares most people. So, the idea of dying and never coming back, which Ana represents for them, must be terrifying. But still. They were all such jerks.

I absolutely loved Ana’s take charge attitude in this book. She was going to find all the answers and make it safe for everyone. I love that she turned into this mother-hen-protector even though she is HOLYCRAP younger than most other characters. I think my favourite line in the whole book was when she says to Sam, “I’ll protect you from the Dragons.” It was just so…adorable and really summed up her new protector role and her love for Sam.

I did find…hrmmm, how to explain without spoiling. Not spoiling is so hard. But lets say that every clue Ana and Sam acquired generally disappeared before they had an opportunity to fully use/explore/read/understand it. And after awhile I was just like, “so why do they keep finding them??” And I don’t know, it just annoyed me. Also, even with the accumulated drama of five thousand years, not EVERYONE has to be in love with Sam. Just saying.

But overall, I highly enjoyed this book and the new characters and new twists. I think I especially like Cris. His story was interesting and I loved where he was at the end of the book and what that means for the world and the rest of the story. Eager to learn more about that and, hopefully, see PHOENIXES!!!!

Incarnate 3, please come quickly.

This was posted at WhatchYAreading on January 4, 2013.(less)

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Feb 20, 2013 Dark Faerie Tales rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed-by-michelle

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales.

Quick & Dirty: A great second book that further delves into reincarnation, answering unasked questions that are centuries old.

Opening Sentence: My life was a mistake.

The Review:

There are no words to fully express how I feel about Jodi Meadow’s Asunder. I had the same problem when I was planning to write my review of the series’ first book, Incarnate. As a follow up book, Asunder had tough shoes to fill. I loved Incarnate. I loved how Meadows allowed my im...more

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Jan 22, 2013 Jenny rated it 4 of 5 stars

Asunder reintroduces us to a world that left us a tiny bit confused after the concluding chapters of Incarnate, questions abounding as to the relationship between the temple, the creation of newsouls, and the true death of the darksouls to make us a touch wary when reaching for this second installment. We can't help but wonder if this sequel will follow the formula of so many sequels, simply setting us up for the next book without answering any of our many and varied questions, but luckily for u...more

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Nov 25, 2012 Kathleen Peacock rated it 5 of 5 stars

Incarnate was a compelling glimpse into a newsoul struggling to understand her existence in a world where humans were perpetually reincarnated. In Asunder, that world is starting to crack. More newsouls are born, and with each newsoul birth, an old soul doesn’t come back.

To the citizens of Heart, each newsoul represents a true death, and while some try to see them as people in their own right, others view them as invaders, a plague sent in retribution for their failure to worship the god Janan....more

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Mar 10, 2013 Julianne rated it 2 of 5 stars

I did not enjoy this book. I skimmed most of it because it was very stagnant. Pages of description about how Ana feels about Sam. Okay, we get it. I felt like the characters didn't develop and nothing really happened until the very end. The beginning was promising, with some mysterious leads to follow...and then Ana just abandoned them.

Also, the basis of the book is supposed to be pretty appalling...but I don't necessarily feel that way about it which I guess makes some of the revelations not to...more

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Feb 06, 2013 Aman rated it 3 of 5 stars

Reviewed @ Enticed by Books

* Might have spoilers if you haven't read Incarnate*

I was very impressed with Incarnate in terms of world building and story development, so when Asunder came out, I bought it instantly wanting to know what happens next after that dreadful yet hopeful ending. I hate to say this, but Asunder was a very slow read and I was distracted very easily especially during the middle of the book. I never got the sense of urgency in which I had to know what happens next, everythi...more Reviewed @ Enticed by Books

* Might have spoilers if you haven't read Incarnate*

I was very impressed with Incarnate in terms of world building and story development, so when Asunder came out, I bought it instantly wanting to know what happens next after that dreadful yet hopeful ending. I hate to say this, but Asunder was a very slow read and I was distracted very easily especially during the middle of the book. I never got the sense of urgency in which I had to know what happens next, everything was very mild & casual.

I loved the beginning where we got to know more about selphs, that's my favorite part in the book, but after that plotline took a complete 180 degree turn where the focus is shifted towards new souls, and selphs are completely forgotten. I missed them, but what I didn't enjoy the most in the story was Ana & Sam's personal moments, it all seems very fake for some reason. I liked Ana in the first book and I'm very proud that she has matured a lot in Asunder, but I don't like Sam. He's not very interesting and not very helpful throughout the story. Ana does everything, she fights bad people, stands up for herself and all Sam does is be by her side and play his music. I didn't liked it.

Besides the romance aspect, I loved what the author did with the story. The reason for the reincarnating souls was revealed which was very unexpected, and gave a good twist in the story. The history of Janan was discovered which was just vile, I know he was up to no good, and Asunder just proves that. As indicated in Incarnate's ending, there were more new souls born which created a havoc in the society, and I was very happy to know that a lot of people supported the new changes, and wanted equal rights for the new souls. Overall I loved the progress in the world, but wasn't very happy with the romance or the pace of the story, so I gave Asunder a very neutral rating. Newsouls series has one of the most intriguing world building, and I recommend it to readers who enjoy reincarnation themes.(less)

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May 19, 2013 Brandi Kosiner rated it 4 of 5 stars

I couldn't decide between 3.5 and 4, so I went with four because of Sam and the ending.
Got started with an emotional beginning, mourning those lost in Templedark. They had monuments made and did memorials. Asunder also showed different people grieving their losses in different ways, which I think is important because in real life people also mourn differently.
Then there was the twist with the sylph, and I was so interested in this plot line. I wanted to know what it was about why they were...more I couldn't decide between 3.5 and 4, so I went with four because of Sam and the ending.
Got started with an emotional beginning, mourning those lost in Templedark. They had monuments made and did memorials. Asunder also showed different people grieving their losses in different ways, which I think is important because in real life people also mourn differently.
Then there was the twist with the sylph, and I was so interested in this plot line. I wanted to know what it was about why they were behaving differently to Ana, and what this meant for her.
We also get to see Ana and Sam together. I just love their romance and seeing them interact with each other and bond through music. I respect him so much when he said. Ana said "Like always, he let me do what I needed to do," and he supported her quietly and faithfully. That he spoke his advice, but stood by her side. And the way he talks to her and treats her is awesome.
"I love you because you're good and honest. I love you because you're brave... because you're strong. I love you because you don't let anything get in the way of doing what's right."
This is totally why I love Ana as a character, and why I adore Sam.
There were new characters and old ones where I started questioning loyalties and what exactly was going on. It was hard when Steph was questioning Sam's love for Ana because I had grown to like her a lot in the last one. I mean, I guess I can understand where she is coming from, but I don't like that she is deviating from her stance and what made me like about her in the last one. It was also hard to see Sam struggling in this one. As many hot and sweet moments, there are also ones where he is withdrawn and putting distance between him and Ana.
The ending gave me lots of answers but I still want to know so much more about this world, and see what Ana does next. There was also a great sacrifice that made me very sad. I totally understand the reasoning and it was honorable as all, but it was heartbreaking.

Bottom Line: Good second book with some hot scenes.(less)

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Feb 11, 2013 Rachel Patrick rated it 4 of 5 stars

3.5/5 Stars

Asunder bummed me out just a little bit, for it wasn't as good as the first book in the series, Incarnate. I feel like it's missing something, but it's that something that you don't know how to classify. (Also, I made the huge mistake of not writing this review right after reading the book, so my mind is coming up completely blank.) While Asunder wasn't great, it wasn't bad, and I'm still in like with this series.

I like the concept of this series. Everyone is a soul that's been reinca...more 3.5/5 Stars

Asunder bummed me out just a little bit, for it wasn't as good as the first book in the series, Incarnate. I feel like it's missing something, but it's that something that you don't know how to classify. (Also, I made the huge mistake of not writing this review right after reading the book, so my mind is coming up completely blank.) While Asunder wasn't great, it wasn't bad, and I'm still in like with this series.

I like the concept of this series. Everyone is a soul that's been reincarnated over and over for five thousand years--that is, until Ana shows up, and she's a newsoul. (Or as some call her, a nosoul, someone who doesn't even have a soul.) In the first book, Incarnate, she kind of made a life for herself, found a place in the world, even if she was unwelcome to others. Now, after Templedark and the loss of souls forever, people are even more rude to Ana, blaming her for things she cannot and does not control. Weird things start to happen, some of which include Sylph. (SPOILER) And then, when another newsoul is born, things take a turn for the worst. Murders are attempted, and Heart is a mess.

Besides the drama and craziness, there's more sexual tension. (Not saying that's a bad thing.) I just want a little more kissing--I really like Sam, and him and Ana are just so cute together. More kissing, please! But of course it's not that simple, and their relationship hits some bumpy roads. Like I felt in Incarnate as well, there was some confusion, as in I didn't always understand what was going on and how some things worked. However, a lot happened in this book--it's a quick read and fast-paced, but in a way that pretty much works. I like the main characters, even if some of them got in the way of making things happen. I think the world is interesting--it seems like a contemporary world in parts, but with things like dragons and unicorns and phoenixes, all of which I want to see much more of. And Jodi Meadows is a really good writer--I like her attention to detail, and for the most part it didn't ever bother me. (Good writing is good!)

In the end, while Asunder didn't match up to its predecessor, it was still good. I very much look forward to the final book in the trilogy--I want to know what's going to happen, especially with how things ended. Also, can we take a moment to appreciate how pretty this book is? The cover, front of the hardback, the chapter headings--I just want to pet the pretty. Overall, an okay book I liked but was just missing something.

This review was originally posted on my blog Beauty and the Bookshelf.(less)

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May 01, 2013 Lindsay rated it 2 of 5 stars

The second book was slightly more interesting than the first, but still felt drawn-out and slow. I mainly only read this because I like finishing stories that I start (so I guess I'll read the next one when it comes out in 2014 or whenever.. if I remember). However, Ana was still a very annoying protagonist. (caution below may contain spoilers)

This book is all about how suddenly Ana decides Janan is eeevviilllll. It turns out she was right (handy), but the whole plot seemed really random in rela...more

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Apr 22, 2013 Josilyn rated it 5 of 5 stars

What a vast improvement on "Incarnate"! While "Incarnate" was only slightly intriguing at best, I was very impressed with Ana's development and the depth of the plot development in "Asunder". As the newsoul, many blame Ana for Templedark and the arrival of newsouls. Not only does Ana struggle to build a place for herself in Heart, she must also take a stand for those who cannot defend themselves. When sylph start behaving strangely towards her and the people let their paranoia take over reason,...more

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Mar 31, 2013 Alise (Readers in Wonderland) rated it 4 of 5 stars

_________________________________
ASUNDER Review
_________________________________
Full formatting of this review at link above.

Just like INCARNATE, ASUNDER and I had a very interesting relationship. I was dead set on giving ASUNDER three stars like its predecessor, but the last eighty pages really hooked me in for the next book.

Because of Templedark, everyone is concerned about the oldsouls that are not going to return, and the newsouls that are going into be born into the world. Although she hel...more _________________________________
ASUNDER Review
_________________________________
Full formatting of this review at link above.

Just like INCARNATE, ASUNDER and I had a very interesting relationship. I was dead set on giving ASUNDER three stars like its predecessor, but the last eighty pages really hooked me in for the next book.

Because of Templedark, everyone is concerned about the oldsouls that are not going to return, and the newsouls that are going into be born into the world. Although she helped make the disaster less horrendous, some still blame Ana for the incident.

If you didn't care for INCARNATE because it was missing action and focused solely on romance then you will find improvement in ASUNDER. There was a mystery that definitely screamed to be solved, and that was the main thing that kept me really involved in the story.

We find out so much more about Janan, sylph, the history of Heart, and the concept of reincarnation in this series. This part of the novel was fantastic, all the secrets wove neatly into each other and left you satisfied yet still wanting more information.

I still had a huge problem with the relationships in this book. It seemed like every character was in love with Sam but, oh wait-no, that person also has a thing for Ana. Not to mention the characters who motives changed unpredictably and went against their original personality.

Ana went through a huge round of character development and actually became somewhat honorable. In INCARNATE, she seemed like a weak protagonist that couldn't make up her mind what kind of personality she wanted to have. Overall, I think that was because she was vulnerable and just plain stubborn sometimes. I have a lot more respect for her afer ASUNDER.

The ending is bound to tear you apart, I was totally not expecting it or the twist that came along with it. I recommend this to fans of INCARNATE, and people who didn't like INCARNATE for the reasons I mentioned above. I will be reading the next book in this series.
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Jun 21, 2012 Turquoise marked it as wanted

HOLY SHIT, GUYS...

I.. I think I just had an extreme premature coverrgasm.

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Feb 27, 2013 Alex Higgins rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-that-linger, fav-books-of-all-time, twist-ending, ya-fantasy-series, beautiful-covers

I've been waiting for this book for a really long time. One of the best things that happened was when I picked out Incarnate (Newsoul #1) from the library shelf. This book is so underrated its not even funny. Easily, Asunder goes in my top ten favorite books, right along with the first book in this series.

Asunder starts off with a bang. Instantly, Ana wants to get the heck out of the Heart (fun fact: Ana was originally called 'Erin') so her and Sam leave together *cue fangirl scream*. First, the...more I've been waiting for this book for a really long time. One of the best things that happened was when I picked out Incarnate (Newsoul #1) from the library shelf. This book is so underrated its not even funny. Easily, Asunder goes in my top ten favorite books, right along with the first book in this series.

Asunder starts off with a bang. Instantly, Ana wants to get the heck out of the Heart (fun fact: Ana was originally called 'Erin') so her and Sam leave together *cue fangirl scream*. First, they go to Purple Rose Cottage. If you don't remember, this was Ana's childhood home, where Li raised her. Horribly, I might add. This is where the sylph attacks begin.

They attack the cottage by the dozens, while Sam and Ana are outside. This happens after Sam gives her this amazing gift that's perfect and symbolizes just how important the role of music is in this book. So, when the sylph attack, Ana does the only thing she can to try and ward them off - she plays music. Oddly enough, that makes the sylph go away.

This is only the beginning of the madness that progresses in Asunder.

Desperate to learn more information as to why the sylph didn't attack, Ana and Sam go in search of Menehem's lab, deep in the forest. When they find it, they do everything they can to try and understand all of Menehem's research and what it all means.

(If you were wondering, which you totally were, there are a ton of cute scenes between Ana and Sam)

Here's the big thing: the Temple in the Heart was where Ana disappeared to in the first book, right? Don't forget about Janan either. Jodi Meadows addresses what really happened that night when the dragons attacked, and just what Janan is up to.

I seriously cannot love this book anymore than I already do. It's on my shelf where all my favorite books are. I've stalked the authors website. But seriously, this book was absolutely amazing. It makes you want to cry sometimes (which is quite often) scream in angst at the characters (I'm looking at you, Ana) and swoon (You can guess who I'm talking about). The writing was beautiful, and it flowed gracefully. One day, I want to touch the hearts of readers everywhere, just like Jodi did with both Incarnate and Asunder. It's a romance and fantasy all wrapped up into one. If this doesn't make you squeal in anticipation, then you should seriously think about your reading preferences.

Asunder earns 4.5/5 stars. I'm a tough person to please when it comes to books, and all I see is the flaws in writing. But with Asunder, I could only see the good in it, which was every single word. I don't know how Jodi Meadows does it, but she does it well.(less)

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May 18, 2013 Jessica (Books: A true story) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: library-2013, 4-stars, blog, content-medium, amazon

I was not planning on reading this book. I wasn’t a huge fan of the first book in this series (Incarnate), but the ending had a lot of burning acid and death that left a lot of interesting questions so when I saw the second book staring at me at the library with it’s pretty flowers and rainbows, I decided to take it home.
Another reason I decided to read this book was because I had a theory and I wanted to see if I was right. I was convinced that newsouls came from animals because that’s the firs...more I was not planning on reading this book. I wasn’t a huge fan of the first book in this series (Incarnate), but the ending had a lot of burning acid and death that left a lot of interesting questions so when I saw the second book staring at me at the library with it’s pretty flowers and rainbows, I decided to take it home.
Another reason I decided to read this book was because I had a theory and I wanted to see if I was right. I was convinced that newsouls came from animals because that’s the first thing you think of when you think of reincarnation. Turns out I was wrong. Where newsouls really come from is even better. I love it when authors do that. I read this book in 2 days and I couldn’t put it down.

Even though I read book 1 in January, I for the life of me couldn’t remember who Sarit was as well as some of the other minor characters. Sarit is a friend of Ana. She keeps bees. Wait is she a she in this lifetime? That is all I know about Sarit. I still think Sam is boring. I do not like that Sam-I-am. He’s unnaturally perfect and completely predictable. I mean when something completely devastating happens, he just lays in bed moping. Cris was much more interesting. He’s a new character in this book who is flawed, selfless, and has been trying to achieve a dream for lifetimes but he can’t quite get there. I just wanted to hug him.

The plot is still pretty slow, but I liked the interesting questions that were brought up. Some of them were pretty deep that delve into life, death, fear, and immortality. Ana goes on a quest for answers that is sometimes metaphorical and sometimes more like Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. It’s very bittersweet because along this journey Ana starts to realize how different and truly alone she is. She has to deal with constant rejection and trying to build her self-esteem despite what others think about her.

Also, I hope we get to see more of the creatures mentioned like trolls, centaures, phoenixes, and, of course, dragons.

Overall, I thought this was much more addicting to read than the first book. It answered a lot of questions from the first book which, of course, just brought up tons more to be answered in the next book. And it delves into some interesting and deep topics that left me thinking long after I finished.

This book is also reviewed on my blog Books: A true story
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Jan 28, 2013 Betty Jo Pritchett rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: addicted-to-ya-botm-challenge

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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About Jodi Meadows

I like books. Reading them, writing, and admiring them as my bookshelves begin to bow.

I command a ferret army. Are YOU ready for the revolution?

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Yes, I will accept your friend request.

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Please do not send private message to ask for a review copy of my book. Because I receive so many requests, I have a blanket "no" policy.

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Quotes from Asunder

“Why couldn't Sam really be a boy my age, with no more experience than I had? No past lives, past loves.

Why couldn't he be only for me?” — 7 people liked it

“I had to drop my head back to meet his eyes, and the way he said my name--it was the same reverence people used in their prayers to Janan.” — 5 people liked it

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Asunder (Newsoul #2)

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