Word and Breath (Wordless Chronicles, #1)

Nov 04, 2012 Susana rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, dystopia

An interesting concept. This story takes place in a dystopian future, where society has stagnated.

The leading government, called "The union" controls, what allows the world to develop and to change itself into a better world.
The ability to read.
In this future, only a small number of persons, called "The readers" know how to do it.

Readers are mainly used to try to decipher "dangerous" codes, that the "Front"(the ones opposed to the union)may be trying to pass over.

"Looking for suspicious messa...more

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Sep 22, 2012 Once Upon rated it 4 of 5 stars

I loved this book from the first page to the end page. It was a book that kept you on your toes and wanted you to keep reading until the to find out what happens with all the characters.

The main character her name is Riana. She is a 22 year old reader. When the Union wants something to be read they will give it to the reader to find out if there is any clues that they should know about. Lots of times these letters that have messages turn up all over the city. Usually in menus, newspapers, and m...more

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Mar 19, 2013 Rachel rated it 4 of 5 stars

Centuries after the great Cataclysm, one nation-state has risen to power. The Union discourages many aspects of pre-cataclysm life such as marriage, romanticism, and reading. One underground, rebel group exists to challenge the Union, the Front.

Rianna Cole works for the Union as a "Reader." As one of the few people who can still read, Rianna's job is to read bits and scraps of text to see if there are hidden messages. Rianna's life consists of work, which she is very good at, and caring for her...more

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Feb 02, 2013 Lilia Ford rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy-romance, high-fantasy

I really enjoyed this. The book depicts a post-literate world where only a few people can read, and an authoritarian government suppresses anything from family love to movies that causes people to question authority. On the outside, rebels and anti-reading fanatics challenge each other and the government itself. The use of the literacy theme and the idea that books have the ability to undermine tyranny is very well-done and rich.

I especially admired the way the book shifts perspectives among th...more

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Jan 09, 2013 Lunar Haven Reviews and Designs rated it 4 of 5 stars

Review:

First off I want to thank Susannah Noel for sending me this review copy, and for being patient with me as I read and worked on the review.When I started reading, the first page automatically grabbed my attention.

“She’d started as a Reader at age fourteen. Since then, she’d done her work quietly and well. She’d never had a bad evaluation, and she’d never gotten in trouble. Until today.”

I was hooked from that point on, Riana Cole was raised by her grandfather who was also a Reader, a very...more Review:

First off I want to thank Susannah Noel for sending me this review copy, and for being patient with me as I read and worked on the review.When I started reading, the first page automatically grabbed my attention.

“She’d started as a Reader at age fourteen. Since then, she’d done her work quietly and well. She’d never had a bad evaluation, and she’d never gotten in trouble. Until today.”

I was hooked from that point on, Riana Cole was raised by her grandfather who was also a Reader, a very well known Reader in fact because of his betrayal to the Union and the secret he was trying to keep…. but that will be explained later in the book. Riana lives with her sister Jannie, who is disabled, but Riana and Jannie are not quite sure what she has that enables her to have good days and bad days and requires her to be in a wheel chair. They live quiet lives just with one another’s company, but when Riana gets in trouble for letting, what the Union considers critical information slide, they put a tail on her believing she has turned against them and is in allegiance with the Librarian.

Mikel, a Soul-Breather, a person who is able to enhance feelings that are already beneath the service and basically a human lie detector, is assigned to extract information from Riana and see if she is in deed a traitor to the Union, that is all Mikel knows but as to why the Union is taking such a special interest in Riana is classified. However, as Mikel learns more about Riana he genuinely begins to care for her and develop feelings...But Mikel is not the only one who care’s for Riana as someone from her past will be coming back into her life again. Connor, a close friend, if not one of the only friend Riana ever had, finally emerges with a friend secrets coming into the light, after years of going underground, Riana will finally learn the truth as to who he really is and what it is he and so many others are trying to accomplish and let me say now why Susannah! Why! In so many ways I want Riana to realize Connor’s true feelings for her, but I also find myself swooning over Mikel! The dilemma you have left me in.

This book was quite gripping and I loved how it was able to incorporate –Paranormal, Dystopian and Romantic aspects all in one. It was the perfect mix, that was able to create a book that will have you reading until you are left with only the last page leaving you with more questions.

4/5 Crescent's!

~Marie

Disclaimer: This review was posted on Paranormal Reads as well as I am the same Marie that was apart of that blog at the time but I still maintain all rights to my written work. :)
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Dec 31, 2012 Alicia rated it 4 of 5 stars

Riana has learned how to stay out of trouble. She spends her days studying written texts in the government’s Office of Readers, and she spends her nights taking care of her sick sister. She always—always—follows the rules. Despite her low profile, she has mysteriously become a target. Someone has kidnapped her sister. Someone else is trying to kill her. And someone has sent a Soul-Breather to beguile her out of her secrets.

Her help comes from the mythic leader of an underground rebel movement....more

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Oct 27, 2012 Angela Ehret rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book is absolutely amazing! Its completely original, based in a world that's been ravaged by wars and a political system that's taken over. With the new political system comes rebellion and different groups with different reasons to rebel. The two main groups being the Zealots (a group of people who take the ideals of the new government to an extreme,) and the Front, people who still have home in a world with free thought. During all of this crazy political trouble comes Riana, a girl with...more

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Oct 11, 2012 Anissa rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: series, paranormal-and-supernatural, science-fiction-and-fantasy

I wanted to love this book. The summary sounded like it was just my kind of read. I must say that I was rather disappointed. First the good, the setting. Many centuries into the future after some great cataclysm, the written word has fallen out of favor & censorship rules. The main character, Riana is a Reader for The Union. A small group of people who can still read & who are set to work to look for messages & anomalies from The Front (the rogue group seeking to topple the governmen...more I wanted to love this book. The summary sounded like it was just my kind of read. I must say that I was rather disappointed. First the good, the setting. Many centuries into the future after some great cataclysm, the written word has fallen out of favor & censorship rules. The main character, Riana is a Reader for The Union. A small group of people who can still read & who are set to work to look for messages & anomalies from The Front (the rogue group seeking to topple the government regime). She has a past that includes parents & a grandfather killed by The Union so everything is set up to be exciting. There's also a supernatural element going on with the Soul-Breathers. These are people who are able to glean pieces of a soul by touch & thus are very valuable at obtaining information. Sounds great right? I thought so also.

The problem for me was that Riana was too flat a character for me to connect to for the great majority of the book or empathize with her deeply. She was bland in almost every way one could be. She didn't have friends, she took care of her invalid sister, she kept her head down at work and basically led a life of blending in. Okay, given her circumstances, it was understandable, in the beginning. Enter Mikel, the Soul-Breather sent to get info from her & provide the romantic element of the story. Here's the thing though, Mikel was more interesting than Riana. He had deceit & subterfuge working in his favor & had to struggle between what he was hired to do & his own personal feelings. We also get Connor who knew Riana before he went all underground with The Front as The Librarian. He was more interesting than Riana. And there may or may not have been some mutual attraction between the two but nothing ever came of it. This is sort of made a big deal of but nothing really comes of it in this book, so unless there's some reckoning further along in the series, I can kind of ignore this. It's like faux-love-triangle right now. Anyway, Riana has two men working to help her find her sister, the Zealots are out for blood & there's romance in the air... and she was still flat. Literally, it was a chore sometimes to read page after page because she was so dull. I rarely experience this with main characters so it's a little difficult for me to let it go. I almost didn't want all these people putting themselves on the line to help her because I didn't feel she deserved it. She didn't do a thing to earn such loyalty & devotion.

I quite enjoyed Jenson, Tava & Donn. They were well drawn characters & mostly, more interesting than Riana. The world building was pretty good but as a dystopian/sci-fi lover, I wanted more explanation of what happened to get the world to this place. I am looking forward to seeing what more there is to learn in subsequent books.

I will say that I loved the last three chapters. They basically saved the story for me. Riana finally finding her purpose & something to drive for made me very happy.The big reveal in the last chapter pulled me in & made me want to read the next in the series.
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Oct 07, 2012 OpenBookSociety.com rated it 3 of 5 stars

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Vicki

Susannah Noel’s Young Adult debut is an ode to censorship and consumerism gone mad; with a dash of romance, a sprinkling of intrigue and a drop of action to whet the appetite. Word and Breath, is a justifiable addition to the ever-so-popular dystopian genre as well as being a respectable first installment to the Wordless Chronicles.

Our protagonist, Riana Cole, has spent the majority of her life caring for her disabled sister, Jannie, and perfecting the art of...more Brought to you by OBS reviewer Vicki

Susannah Noel’s Young Adult debut is an ode to censorship and consumerism gone mad; with a dash of romance, a sprinkling of intrigue and a drop of action to whet the appetite. Word and Breath, is a justifiable addition to the ever-so-popular dystopian genre as well as being a respectable first installment to the Wordless Chronicles.

Our protagonist, Riana Cole, has spent the majority of her life caring for her disabled sister, Jannie, and perfecting the art of wallflowerdom. Riana passes her day working as a Reader for the governing Union, translating old documents and studying information provided in texts; the written word is scarce and people with the ability to read are few and far between. Riana has the additional skill of being able to read the Old Language, which makes her a target for fundamentalist factions of the government and independent guerrilla insurrectionists.

The Union send Mikel, a Soul-Breather and strapping young lad, to seduce (PG-13 style) Riana into revealing the extent of her knowledge and ability; they are convinced that she is hiding something and is in league with the peaceful rebel group, The Front. Soul-Breathers consume the essence of a person to learn their secrets and Mikel attempts to do just that. Unfortunately for him and his pay check he begins to develop feelings for Riana. When Jannie is kidnapped by an unknown group, Mikel, along with a few others, aid Riana in her quest to find her.

It seems that Riana was a bit of a blank slate before the events of Word and Breath took place. Her personality is revealed through her reaction to her sister’s kidnapping and the measures that she is forced to go to as a result of this. Although there was some character development, I finished the novel not really understanding who Riana Cole is/was. As the series unfolds I would like to see a few more defining traits from Riana to make her less of a reader-self-insert character. She resembled too many other dystopian characters for me to truly empathize with her plight. On the other hand, it is possible that Riana is a product of her censored world and throughout the series we will see her break away from this mold.

Mikel is the bad-boy-turned-good. He also has the best development and dialogue in Word and Breath. The budding romance between him and Riana is thwarted by betrayal and past affections. Noel establishes hints of a love triangle but the romantic attention consistently returns to Mikel; making him the obvious frontrunner. Even though I felt a bit reluctant to back Team Mikel, Noel did a good job of convincing me that it was the right team to be on. For me, the Soul-Breathers represented our constant need to consume information; both public and private. Although this world is fraught with legal limitations on the sharing of knowledge this is counteracted by people who have the ability to obtain knowledge that belongs to others. I really enjoyed the exploration of this theme.

The world is the most interesting aspect of the novel. As previously mentioned, Noel demonstrates her version of what would happen if there was widespread censorship. There are direct comparisons with the world that we are living in today all throughout Word and Breath and it is this realism that really cements the story and the development of the Wordless world. I enjoyed seeing our own current economic and political circumstances translated into a hypothetical view of the future. I do wish Noel had explored this theme a little further but I understand that the restraint was probably instigated by the target audience.

I did feel that there could have been a little more explanation as to how censorship became an epidemic but towards the end of this book we get glimpses of a revelation to come further on in the series. I specifically enjoyed this cliff-hanger because the state of the world was something I wanted to learn more about when reading. The revelation tease is what will make readers want to read on in the series.

Word and Breath was entertaining. I feel as though more attention to the character development and world-building would have earned this book an extra star as I am still a little bit confused about the whole who/why/when/what/how of it all. The Wordless Chronicles are chock-full of potential; Noel has some imaginative ideas and it is going to be great to see how these ideas play out. I recommend this book for fans of Young Adult dystopian/post-apocalyptic novels.

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Oct 01, 2012 Wendy Hines rated it 5 of 5 stars

Riana is twenty-two, raising her disabled sister, Jannie, and a Reader. She lives in a world where the Union is the government and when it is rare to have the ability to read. Since Riana was taught at her grandfather’s knee, not only to read but also in the old language, she has value. She works in the Reader’s office, reading old papers, looking for anomalies.

The Front would rather be Free and not take orders from the Union. They are led by the Librarian, a man who sends his orders and other i...more Riana is twenty-two, raising her disabled sister, Jannie, and a Reader. She lives in a world where the Union is the government and when it is rare to have the ability to read. Since Riana was taught at her grandfather’s knee, not only to read but also in the old language, she has value. She works in the Reader’s office, reading old papers, looking for anomalies.

The Front would rather be Free and not take orders from the Union. They are led by the Librarian, a man who sends his orders and other important information, through old letters, cards and whatnot. He’s watched Riana closely for three years now, but doesn’t want her involved with the Front. However, that decision is about to be irrevocably changed.

Mikel is a Breather. He has the capability of sensing emotions and taking memories through touch. The person he is touching must be a willing partner for it to work, or they could go insane. He’s the best of the best and he’s been hired by the Union to locate Riana, make her trust him and get the information his boss desires.

When Riana’s sister is kidnapped, things begin to heat up. Her inquiries though soon put her own life at risk, as well as others trying to help her. Mikel can help her, if she can learn to trust him. Also, the Librarian’s main priority is the Front, but he can’t help but want to protect Riana too. But he and Mikel struggle for control whenever she is around. Between the Front, the Union, the two men in her life, and a new sense of purpose, Riana isn’t sure what to do. She just knows she will do anything to get her sister back.

Word and Breath is a fantastic dystopian fantasy that captured me from page one. The world-building is unique and complex. The characters are well-developed and heavily layered. While some characters I liked and disliked, my opinion changed of others as their character developed in the story. I am definitely looking forward to another installment in this ingenious and beguiling dystopian fantasy!
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Sep 21, 2012 Marie DeLaRosa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed

Review:
First off I want to thank Susannah Noel for sending me this review copy, and for being patient with me as I read and worked on the review.When I started reading, the first page automatically grabbed my attention.

“She’d started as a Reader at age fourteen. Since then, she’d done her work quietly and well. She’d never had a bad evaluation, and she’d never gotten in trouble.

Until today.”

I was hooked from that point on, Riana Cole was raised by her grandfather who was also a Reader, a very...more Review:
First off I want to thank Susannah Noel for sending me this review copy, and for being patient with me as I read and worked on the review.When I started reading, the first page automatically grabbed my attention.

“She’d started as a Reader at age fourteen. Since then, she’d done her work quietly and well. She’d never had a bad evaluation, and she’d never gotten in trouble.

Until today.”

I was hooked from that point on, Riana Cole was raised by her grandfather who was also a Reader, a very well known Reader in fact because of his betrayal to the Union and the secret he was trying to keep…. but that will be explained later in the book. Riana lives with her sister Jannie, who is disabled, but Riana and Jannie are not quite sure what she has that enables her to have good days and bad days and requires her to be in a wheel chair. They live quiet lives just with one another’s company, but when Riana gets in trouble for letting, what the Union considers critical information slide, they put a tail on her believing she has turned against them and is in allegiance with the Librarian.

Mikel, a Soul-Breather, a person who is able to enhance feelings that are already beneath the service and basically a human lie detector, is assigned to extract information from Riana and see if she is in deed a traitor to the Union, that is all Mikel knows but as to why the Union is taking such a special interest in Riana is classified. However, as Mikel learns more about Riana he genuinely begins to care for her and develop feelings...But Mikel is not the only one who care’s for Riana as someone from her past will be coming back into her life again. Connor, a close friend, if not one of the only friend Riana ever had, finally emerges with a friend secrets coming into the light, after years of going underground, Riana will finally learn the truth as to who he really is and what it is he and so many others are trying to accomplish and let me say now why Susannah! Why! In so many ways I want Riana to realize Connor’s true feelings for her, but I also find myself swooning over Mikel! The dilemma you have left me in.

This book was quite gripping and I loved how it was able to incorporate –Paranormal, Dystopian and Romantic aspects all in one. It was the perfect mix, that was able to create a book that will have you reading until you are left with only the last page leaving you with more questions.

4/5 Crescent's!

~Marie

Be sure to stop by Susannah website > susannah-noel.com.
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Sep 17, 2012 Alicia rated it 5 of 5 stars

Word and Breath is unlike any book that I have ever read. The layers in this book were just remarkable. Susannah Noel did her homework when writing this novel. The world that she created was dangerous and fun all at the same time. Her characters were witty, charming and just plain fantastic.

While I was reading this book I felt like I was watching one of those old time black and white movies set in a dystopian world. The suspense was slowly killing me while I was reading. Even when I thought I h...more

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Aug 27, 2012 Ashley Williams rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This was an intriguing read, this is one of those books you will just devour!! I couldn't put it down.. the flow of the book was perfect. There were several swoonworthy moments. The overall premise and setting was interesting as well. Sweet yet sexy, definitely a 5 star in my opinion and a must read.

Post Apocalypse.. reading is nearly extinct. Those who can read work for the Office of Readers, trying to find codes in written text. Riana tried to maintain a low profile, but is suddenly thrust int...more

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Jun 11, 2013 Piseog rated it 2 of 5 stars

This book was very blah. By the second half I just couldn't wait for it to end. I never looked forward to reaing it. I was interested at the beginning, especially ater reading Connor's fist section (despite initially hating that it had multiple POVs). Then it just got boring. Everyone was tense all the time and there was some danger, but ovreall I was bored. Nothing captivated me and the characters were not very interesting. I felt nothing for them or the whole love dilema.

The biggest problem w...more

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Nov 28, 2012 Mandy (I read Indie) Anderson rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Riana leads a boring life...work, home, sleep, repeat. She takes care of her wheelchair bound sister and is a Reader at her job with the Government. A Reader is a rare job in a world where most people do not read at all.

One day, Riana meets Mikel and they hit it off. Things are finally starting to look up for her and life is becoming a little less boring. But when her sister goes missing, Riana's world is suddenly raging out of control. Little by little Riana learns secrets about herself and the...more Riana leads a boring life...work, home, sleep, repeat. She takes care of her wheelchair bound sister and is a Reader at her job with the Government. A Reader is a rare job in a world where most people do not read at all.

One day, Riana meets Mikel and they hit it off. Things are finally starting to look up for her and life is becoming a little less boring. But when her sister goes missing, Riana's world is suddenly raging out of control. Little by little Riana learns secrets about herself and the people after her. Riana actually wishes her life could go back to be boring once again. But it doesn't look like that is going to happen any time soon.

This book is full of mystery and suspense. I found that there was rarely a dull moment to be had with this read. So much happens you need to pay attention so you don't miss a thing. I really enjoyed the whole setting and loved that this book takes place centuries after a cataclysmic event that brought the world back to a time before any technology advancements. Of course in the present time lots of advances have been made but it was nowhere near where it once was.

Most people can no longer read. And this is where my problem with the book fell. I really didn’t understand how the advances in technology had been made if most people (especially those in the government) could not read. I don’t know if it was just me and I missed a part, but I don’t think that was explained very well. Other than that, I thought the whole thing was pretty good. It is definitely different than what I have read before in the dystopian genre.

As for characters, I loved Mikel…even though I didn’t know how to pronounce his name. In my mind I kept calling him Mickel (you know like nickel). Hubs thought it was pronounced like Migel. Anyhow, loved him and thought his character was so great. I loved when the story was coming from his POV more than the others. He was well written…so yeah, I just loved him. Riana was an ok character. I didn’t really connect well with her since her character was so untrusting of others. I did start to like her more towards the end when I noticed her attitude and look on life changing. I think that with the next book Riana will be a whole different girl and I will enjoy her more then. It’s just a feeling I have about her.

I really enjoyed the story and look forward to seeing what these great characters are up to in the next book. The possibilities are endless on where the author could take the series and the ending alone will have you excited to continue on. Word and Breath is perfect for those who are in need of a suspenseful read full or mystery and a little romance…this book is definitely for you.(less)

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Sep 01, 2012 Alicia rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

Word and Breath is unlike any book that I have ever read. The layers in this book were just remarkable. Susannah Noel did her homework when writing this novel. The world that she created was dangerous and fun all at the same time. Her characters were witty, charming and just plain fantastic.

While I was reading this book I felt like I was watching one of those old time black and white movies set in a dystopian world. The suspense was slowly killing me while I was reading. Even when I thought I h...more

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Aug 26, 2012 Christy rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Five centuries ago, the Cataclysm destroyed almost everything; practically everything of value was gone. When the society started to build again the Union Government rose from the ashes and gave people the stability that they desired. But the Union Government slowly took over the entire continent and nothing has been strong enough to stop it.

Riana Cole is a 22 year old read Reader, which in the world she lives in is very rare, most Union officials can’t read so they depend profoundly on the Read...more

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Oct 22, 2012 A.R. Von rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: rr-2012-challenge

A very different type of read set in a different world, a world where there are limits to who can read and what's to be read. You see book reading has become out-of-date or defunct, no longer allowed in this time, which is set centuries in the future. Oh and I cannot forget the love triangle with Rianna, Mikal (a woo hoo hottie) and Conner (a good-looking bookworm). I recommend this book to anyone that enjoys paranormal, romance (that’s not that sensual) and Dystopian all with a twist.

Riana work...more

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Nov 03, 2012 Mlpmom (Book Reviewer) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: author-request, kindle-books

I never know what to expect when I go into a novel written by an author I have never read and know very little about. Especially when after reading the synopsis, I know the book will be different than anything I have probably ever read before.

Sometimes that can be a good thing and sometimes...not so much.

Thankfully this wasn't one of the “not so much”.

This novel definitely had a darker feel to it. It had a slight dystopian/paranormal/mystery vibe. I was pretty sure that I had been right with my...more

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Sep 15, 2012 Gaele rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: jeep-diva, review-reads

I received a copy of this book from the author for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review, and all conclusions are my own responsibility. Set in a post-apocalyptic future, books and reading have become passé, if not frowned upon. A governmental agency, tasked with reading and recording the “approved” history is where we encounter Riana, a ‘reader’ with the agency. While few people read, the opposition has taken to encoding messages in the written word: readers are tasked...more

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Sep 04, 2012 Cecilia (rather barefoot than bookless) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: urban-fantasy, reviwed-on-request-by-author, young-adult-romance

I love this book! It is completely amazing and totally different. This story takes place in a different kind of world where the people live their lives in an iron grip by the government. I just totally love this story with the rebels and the spies and the girl in the middle who just really wants to be left alone and live in peace. Easier said then done like they say. This is a story that will keep you on your toes and will have you guessing during the book. Who is the bad guy in this story? When...more I love this book! It is completely amazing and totally different. This story takes place in a different kind of world where the people live their lives in an iron grip by the government. I just totally love this story with the rebels and the spies and the girl in the middle who just really wants to be left alone and live in peace. Easier said then done like they say. This is a story that will keep you on your toes and will have you guessing during the book. Who is the bad guy in this story? When I read this book I lived in it. I read it on my way to work on the bus and while I walked, while I ate and during my brake. My phone (where I read the book) was glued to my hand!

I love the characters in this book! Riana just wants to be left a lone. to live her life taking care of her sister without any trouble from the government or the rebels. But neither of them will leave her alone. They both wants something from her. She might not realise it but Riana is a really strong young woman who does not brake down easily!

And of course we have a hottie in the story! The soul breather! (I love that concept by the way) If you want do drool, well then you should read this. He acts all though and non caring but deep down he is a softie at least when it comes to Riana. And the chemistry between him and Riana is... wow. Some people just know how to write about that chemistry, that feeling between two people so good that you can see it and feel it like it was happening to you and not the characters in the book and Noel knows what she is doing that is for sure!

We also have the rebel, the long lost friend with the biggest crush ever on Riana! There she is, i the middle by two really different guys! One with eyes only for her and one who always acts for the greater good of others.

The plot is really good and you will keep guessing for a long time in this book. There was no cliff hanger in the end but who needs it after a story that good? I can´t wait for the second book in this series that will be released in December!!!!!!

You have to read this one! I mean it!(less)

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Oct 16, 2012 Michele (Reading Lark/CanadianTwiMom) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, ebook, dystopian-post-apocalyptic, futuristic-setting, new-adult, paranormal, reading-lark, fictional-crush

My review can also be found at Reading Lark: http://readinglark.blogspot.ca/2012/1...

Can you imagine a FUTURE world where very few people can read? It's hard to envision but this is the captivating premise for Susannah Noel's Word and Breath, set in a post-Cataclysm future society. The current government, known as The Union, would rather its people not be able to read...because reading begets knowledge, which begets knowledgeable people forming rebellious groups to over-throw the government (The...more
My review can also be found at Reading Lark: http://readinglark.blogspot.ca/2012/1...

Can you imagine a FUTURE world where very few people can read? It's hard to envision but this is the captivating premise for Susannah Noel's Word and Breath, set in a post-Cataclysm future society. The current government, known as The Union, would rather its people not be able to read...because reading begets knowledge, which begets knowledgeable people forming rebellious groups to over-throw the government (The Front). There is, however, a small population of society who CAN and are permitted to read--they are known as Readers--and are employed by The Union to oversee any literature for hidden messages of rebellion found in highly sought-after and illegal-to-possess old books.

Riana Cole is a Reader...taught by her legendary and rebellious grandfather. 22 year old Riana and her younger, disabled sister are all that's left of her family now, and so Riana is determined to play by the rules and keep a low profile in order to just eek out a living and take care of her sister. However, something Riana innocently overlooked in her job sets in motion a series of events that keeps Riana from staying under the radar any longer.

I quite liked Riana Cole as a heroine. She was smart and thoughtful and honest, if not a little too self-deprecating at times. She hides her beauty behind unremarkable clothing and the always present braids in her hair, and I understood why she chose to appear this way even though it's a common theme among protagonists. And despite her attempts at quashing her physical beauty, she still attracts the attention of the men around her, which she often believes they view her as a friend. That is until Mikel suddenly appears in her life as a knight in shining armour and stays put. She's undeniably attracted to Mikel from the get-go, and vice-versa...and who wouldn't?!

Mikel represents the supernatural element in this story...he is a Soul-Breather. I'm still not sure I can fully and accurately describe what a Soul-Breather is...but he seems to have the power to sense, taste, amplify and suppress others emotions. Sent by The Union to infiltrate Riana's life and learn where her loyalties lie, Mikel soon develops feelings for her that conflict with his original assignment. I ADORED Mikel and his commitment to Riana. He had some tough decisions to make about his future, if that might include her, even though not all his feelings for her were fully reciprocated for understandable reasons. One might argue that his feelings developed too quickly for Riana, but his nature explains that, so I'm happy with how that aspect of the story went.

Reed Connor is the other man that has known Riana for a very long time...since she first came to the Office of Readers at the age of 14. Riana always had a secret crush on him but he seemed to treat her like a little sister until he suddenly disappeared a few years later. Unbeknownst to Riana, Connor did have feelings for her as she grew up, prior to his leaving. When he re-enters her life, what forms is a love-triangle that was believable and hard to pick a side. Connor is the methodical, research-oriented guy that prefers to think things through before acting on them. I loved both Mikel and Connor, much like Riana did, for their differences. I'm dying to see how that all plays out.

Dystopians are a genre that I absolutely love to sink my teeth into...and Word and Breath will definitely be another series I will follow. This first installment did seem a bit dry in the middle where I had a harder time focusing my attention but there was enough romance and action to keep me coming back to it. Some things still left me wondering...such as what WAS the Cataclysm, who exactly makes up The Union (we have yet to be introduced to a controlling figurehead) and what exactly was the 'old language'...but I also think it was meant to be discovered as the series moves along. Word and Breath had some exciting twists, and the author was not afraid to sacrifice a character or two that we came to appreciate. I also liked how there was resolution of the plot in this installment with the overall story arc still left to be played out. I'm looking forward to seeing what comes up next, and how Riana's relationships with Mikel and Connor further develop.

Even though the ages of the main characters are in their 20's, there is nothing inappropriate, so far, that I feel needs to warn younger teen readers away from this story.

I'd like to thank the author for the opportunity to read and review her book.(less)

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Aug 23, 2012 Christi Snow rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

My Review:

It's no secret that I am a HUGE reader. With that comes an almost obsessive love of books and the written word. As such, the world that Susannah Noel has created in this Urban Fantasy world is one that gives me nightmares.

This book takes place centuries into the future and in this world, reading and books are almost a non-entity. The government (the Union) has determined that the written word is an evil thing that's used to spread subversive messages. As such, there is very little wri...more My Review:

It's no secret that I am a HUGE reader. With that comes an almost obsessive love of books and the written word. As such, the world that Susannah Noel has created in this Urban Fantasy world is one that gives me nightmares.

This book takes place centuries into the future and in this world, reading and books are almost a non-entity. The government (the Union) has determined that the written word is an evil thing that's used to spread subversive messages. As such, there is very little written word left and even fewer that know how to read it. For what is left, the government has Readers to ensure that the messages being sent forth aren't used to start a rebellion. The heroine of the book, Riana is one of those Readers. She knows not to go against the government. Both her parents and grandfather paid with their lives for doing so. Riana can't take that risk because she has to care for her sick 16 yo sister. But sometimes fate has a way of taking care of things for you.

She gets pulled into something when she discovers something in a text that's odd. Not wanting to jump to conclusions, she took it to one of her fellow Readers, Jenson, before reporting it. He asks her to not report it and since she trusts him, she hides her finding. That sets forth a whole chain of reactions that play out over the rest of the novel.

There are several different groups pulling at Riana for unknown reasons, the Union (the government), the Front (the rebellion), and the Zealots (those against all of them). She also has two extremely sexy, although very different guys interested in her: Connor and Mikel. Connor has been a friend for a long time. He was a fellow Reader who dropped off the face of the earth three years ago (for very good reasons that she doesn't know about) but has reappeared to help her. Then there is Mikel, a Soul-Breather sent originally to spy on Riana by the Union until he started to fall for her.

I'm not usually a huge fan of a love triangle, but Susannah did it really well. Throughout the entire book I continued to flip-flop on who I wanted Riana to end up with....both of these guys make great heroes, but for completely different reasons. The guys are both so different and even their devotion to Riana is different, but I really liked both of them!

This is definitely a great start to this Urban Fantasy series. I marked a quote towards the end of the book because it quantified just why I loved this book so much....
"But books can change things. They can. They changed me."

How can you not love a book when that is the message it puts forth? I am definitely sold on this series. Now I am just counting down the days until book #2, Word and Deed, comes out in December. Contrasting the two titles and what I know from the story on this one...I am really excited to read the next one. I am thinking that it may be more Connor focused, but who knows. I just know I will be reading it!
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Sep 15, 2012 Sara (sarabara081) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

You can find more of my reviews at Forever 17 Books.

The premise of Word and Breath immediately grabbed my attention from the get go. A dystopian/post-apocalyptic read with a bit of a paranormal element is right up my alley. And lets not forget the love triangle! All this combined for a wonderful read!

The plot was very different that anything I've read. I expected more of a paranormal feel to it, with the addition of these Soul-Breathers who have the ability to breathe out memories or feelings wi...more You can find more of my reviews at Forever 17 Books.

The premise of Word and Breath immediately grabbed my attention from the get go. A dystopian/post-apocalyptic read with a bit of a paranormal element is right up my alley. And lets not forget the love triangle! All this combined for a wonderful read!

The plot was very different that anything I've read. I expected more of a paranormal feel to it, with the addition of these Soul-Breathers who have the ability to breathe out memories or feelings with a simple touch, but I found so much more! The world building was great. The story takes place after a cataclysm that destroyed civilization and technology, further changing the way of life. We have a Union, which is the political control of society, and of course no dystopian is complete without some sort of rebellion, or the Front as they are known. There is also a group called the Zealots that seems to hate everyone, but we don't learn as much about them yet as we do the other two. And guys, this is a world where only a few people know how to read! *gasp* Say it ain't so! Can you imagine? It sounds like they follow more of symbols and such. The main character, Riana, is a Reader who knows the Old Language and unbeknowst to her, is a valuable asset. This catapults us into the battle to get to Riana. The plot was easy to follow along with, though I do wish we got a little more background on the cataclysm. Since this was just the beginning of a series and we are hit with a lot of other information that was directly relevant to the 'now' in the plot, I am hoping we get that from future books in the series. I also craved a bit more action, though I did love the bits we did get.

With the novel being told in 3rd person, we are able to see the inner workings of both sides, the Union and the Front, as a few different characters were the focus. I thought this worked well, to give us more insight into everything going on. I do wish we were able to feel a little more from the main character, Riana. Sometimes the jumping around can take away from a reader's connection with a character. For the most part it all worked for me but I can't help wishing I got to feel a little more from Riana.

What surprised me was the character are not teenagers! Riana is 22, with both male characters being slightly older in age. Somehow I was expecting a YA read, but honestly it reads just like one. It was a very pleasant surprise. I am so picky with adult reads so it was nice to have a combo of elements I enjoy from YA included in an age a little closer to me. :)

Now, even from the premise, you know there is a love triangle most likely brewing. Do I have my favorite? Of course! I love both boys but I am definitely Team Connor! He appears quiet and shy, but I really think that has more to do with how meticulous he is. He is also very brave, a perfect leader for the rebellion he leads. But then there is Mikel! He is almost the bad boy, in a way. As a soul-breather, he often worked for the Union by extracting information from others with his touch. Of course that's how his relationship with Riana started, but we get to see him evolve into a caring man in love. *sigh* I feel like out of every character, I got to know him the best so it breaks my heart to root for the other guy, but. . . too bad I am. :P It's funny how I usually root for the bad guy, but in this case, my heart is with Connor.

Susannah Noel amazed me with her writing as well. Often times when I am reading a self-pub or smaller indie pub novel, I can tell within the writing. That was not the case here. The author has done remarkable work and I look forward to reading more from her in the future.

Overall, I definitely recommend this novel if you are a fan of a mash-up of different genres to make one amazing read!(less)

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Nov 25, 2012 Celeste rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, dystopian, asked-to-review, indie-self-pub-d, post-apocalyptic

This was originally reviewed on The Book Hookup

**I received a copy of this book from the author but that did not influence the review**

♥ The story
Very corrupt dystopian society that has rebuilt itself up. A small group of people (the Union) holds all the power, the wealth, and information from the masses. Of course another group (the Front) wants to rebel, so this is where it gets interesting. And then, there is at least one more group that has a third mission in mind. As the struggle for power...more

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Oct 30, 2012 Between the Bind rated it 4 of 5 stars

4.5 Stars from Between the Bind.

Word and Breath was a uniquely written Dystopian novel, weaving an illicit romance, underground terrorists, a wordless society and controlling government into one cohesive and well-written novel.

Riana is a Reader. In her world, not many people know how to read anymore, especially the Old Language. Riana's job is to seamlessly search through thousands of pages of text to uncover possible codes written into these messages. And Riana has never made a mistake - until...more 4.5 Stars from Between the Bind.

Word and Breath was a uniquely written Dystopian novel, weaving an illicit romance, underground terrorists, a wordless society and controlling government into one cohesive and well-written novel.

Riana is a Reader. In her world, not many people know how to read anymore, especially the Old Language. Riana's job is to seamlessly search through thousands of pages of text to uncover possible codes written into these messages. And Riana has never made a mistake - until now. After a particularly difficult day at work, Riana heads home to have dinner with her 18-year-old sister, Jannie, a bright, funny girl who is suffering from an untreatable illness.

Soon after Riana's boss, a member of the Union, uncovers her mistake, several bizarre things begin happening. She meets the most incredible man who seems to always be in the right place at the right time. she uncovers her family secret, and her sister gets stolen...Riana's quiet life is immediately disheveled as she is thrown into a war between not two but three different groups and with her sister's, and her own, life in the balance, Riana will do anything it takes to get her back.

This book was well-written with unique ideas and active characters that I am looking forward to reading more about. I enjoyed the unique leading lady that Riana is. She isn't fearless or badass, just a quiet, real woman finding her way carefully through a world where people disappear and never return again. Connor, Riana's former friend, has been politically active ever since he disappeared...but no matter how much he tries to remove Riana from his thoughts, she's always lingering beneath the stress and anxiety that is his new life. Finally, we have Mikal...the typical bad boy that needs a bit of TLC and maaaybe a little verbal slap to help him get it together. Even all of the supporting characters were enjoyable to read about and I'm hoping we'll see more of them in the next installment of this series.

The premise of this book is very unique and simple for any book-lover to connect with. The idea that reading and writing is no longer a part of life is something that I cannot imagine...and the way that Ms. Noel streams her ideas through the pages of text is lovely. Although I enjoyed the characters and the premise, I felt that some of the world and government building needed clarification. The beginning of this book also started slowly...and didn't really engage me until about a quarter of the way through.

Overall, I truly enjoyed this book and am looking forward to the next by Ms. Noel. I would definitely add this to your to-read list if you haven't already. (less)

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Oct 07, 2012 Soma "Insomnia Of Books" rated it 4 of 5 stars

I received this book for review, about two week ago. I rarely start review copies this early but this book really WAS something. I loved how the blurb didn't give up too much on the story-line but still intrigued me. And I also ADORE the cover. The font fades nicely with the background. I finished it in only two settings, and I loved it!
Rianna is a reader, one of the very few people who can still read in the Union (her country). She has always lived a normal life, all centered around taking ca...more I received this book for review, about two week ago. I rarely start review copies this early but this book really WAS something. I loved how the blurb didn't give up too much on the story-line but still intrigued me. And I also ADORE the cover. The font fades nicely with the background. I finished it in only two settings, and I loved it!
Rianna is a reader, one of the very few people who can still read in the Union (her country). She has always lived a normal life, all centered around taking care of her younger sister. One day, she meets a mysterious, gorgeous man named Mikel. She is not the type to be fooled, and she knows that Mikel has his secrets. But when her sister is kidnapped, Rianna will do anything to get her back, even if it means trusting Mikel. When she can't help but fall for him...
Through a series of events, Rianna realizes that the Union government, The Front (a group of rebels), and The Zelliotes (another group of rebels) want her for very different reasons. She has to choose which one to side with, the sooner the better. While searching for her sister, Rianna has to balance two men who would do the impossible to win her heart.
Who has kidnapped Rianna's sister? Will Rianna be able to get her back? Why are The Union, The Front, and The Zelliotes so interested in her? And who will finally win her heart? Find out much more when you read the exhilarating, romantic, Word & Breath. A story of trust, love, and well-buried secrets.
I LOVED this book. I have never heard of the author, and I don't know if this is her debut. But if it it, then it's SUPERB! Susannah Noel has a beautiful writing style, it's lyrical, simple, and lovely.

"She was wearing her braids again, and they bounced around her shoulders as she moved with the horse. She had a pretty good seat, for just having ridden two weeks, and she was grinning in a way that made him smile. The sun glinted off her brown hair, and he could hear her laughter drifting over to him with the breeze."

Yeah, her descriptions are wonderful! Although the book was in 3rd person, I enjoyed it VERY much! I was supposed to hate love triangles but this one was so beautiful, that I didn't care anyway. Rianna is a believable character, and I totally loved her. Mikel is the ultimate swoon-worthy guy. Oh my, I get goosebumps when I think of him. Conner is sweet, kind and protective, I liked him even more that Mikel! All of the secondary characters have their own background stories and motives.
The only complain is that it was a little slow at the beginning, but then the pace sped up! If you want an enjoyable, thought-provoking read that will make you think about the true values of a society, then Word and Breath is the ONE. I couldn't put this book down, and I don't regret a moment spend reading it...
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Oct 17, 2012 Valentina rated it 4 of 5 stars

I just love dystopian novels. When they’re done correctly, they are both fascinating and frightening, creating a wonderful reading experience. In this case, the majority of it was able to capture this essence, so I did enjoy it quite a bit.
The author does a nice job of world building, not too much that it gets frustrating, and not too little so that we have no idea what’s happening. She manages to guide us along in a believable way, following our protagonist, Riana, through her life. She is an i...more

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Sep 12, 2012 Ashley rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: dystopia, fantasy

This one was a little disappointing. The writing wasn't terrible, but I just couldn't get into the characters as much as I would have liked to. I love a strong female lead and Riana was lacking guts for most of the story. While Mikel and Connor had different strengths that I enjoyed, I didn't find myself particulary rooting for either guy. The only characters I truly liked were Tava and Jensen, but their secondary status left me wanting.

There also wasn't enough backstory for me. Maybe all the q...more

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Sep 28, 2012 Kelsey (Kelsey's Cluttered Bookshelf) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012

Originally posted on my blog Kelsey's Cluttered Bookshelf

A big thank you to the author for sending me an eBook copy to review!

The world is different than what we know now; everything is run and controlled by the Union after events that happened in the past that were apocalyptical. Almost everybody has lost the ability to read except those working as Readers for the Union, and some of the people who rebel against them. The Readers go through old texts and try to discover any hidden codes or messa...more Originally posted on my blog Kelsey's Cluttered Bookshelf

A big thank you to the author for sending me an eBook copy to review!

The world is different than what we know now; everything is run and controlled by the Union after events that happened in the past that were apocalyptical. Almost everybody has lost the ability to read except those working as Readers for the Union, and some of the people who rebel against them. The Readers go through old texts and try to discover any hidden codes or messages as well as other things.

Riana is one of these Readers and she’s living a happy life just working and staying with her sick sister. She has no social life and isn’t too good around other people at first. But even with this, she tends to seem very strong especially when her sister goes missing. She always tries to do what is right, but has an attitude if she needs it.

There is a love triangle in this book but I really liked the way it was done. Mikel, a Soul-Breather, and Connor, and old friend of Riana’s are the love interests. Both men are different but have the best intentions and would do anything for her. Personally I rooted for Mikel. He’s the loner type who never really had anyone to care for before and his world changes for the better when he meets her, even if his job was originally to get information from her. Connor is an important part of the Front but he tries to squash his feelings for her and doesn’t really act on anything. This might change as the series goes on though, who knows.

The plot itself was really good with all the twists and turns. They were trying to figure out who did the kidnapping, how to get Jannie back and of course why everyone wants Riana to begin with. There is so much thought and planning and possible clues of spies going on with the characters and it was great.

The POV changed between different characters that were important to the story, but it wasn’t done per chapter like we usually see. There are smaller sections where they switch, which was neat and I didn’t get as lost with who was speaking as I thought I would!

One thing that did confuse me was the Old Language. I don’t know what I’m supposed to be comparing it to now since this book is technically based in a future world, or if I’m supposed to be comparing it at all. Basic English, or French or something? A little more of a look into what happened in the past and how the cities function now would have been nice too.

All together I loved the characters and their interaction, but could have used more explanations as to prior events. The main character is actually 22 in this, and not a teen. There isn’t any gratuitous violence or sexy scenes so it’s ok for teens to read!(less)

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Word and Breath (Wordless Chronicles #1)

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