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Wordless Chronicles #1
Word and Breath
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. A man who used to be her friend. A man who has silently loved her for years. He disappeared from her life without a word, and now he expects her to trust him again.
Then there’s the Soul-Breather, a man who can taste her spirit with only a touch. He makes her feel things she’s never experienced before, but she doesn’t know if the feelings are real. Hired to deceive and betray her, he offers to help her instead.
Without both men, she can’t rescue her sister. And she can’t discover the world-changing knowledge—buried in her memory—that has made her a target in the first place.
Her help comes from the mythic leader of an underground rebel movement. A man who used to be her friend. A man who has silently loved her for years. He disappeared from her life without a word, and now he expects her to trust him again.
Then there’s the Soul-Breather, a man who can taste her spirit with only a touch. He makes her feel things she’s never experienced before, but she doesn’t know if the feelings are real. Hired to deceive and betray her, he offers to help her instead.
Without both men, she can’t rescue her sister. And she can’t discover the world-changing knowledge—buried in her memory—that has made her a target in the first place.
336 pages, Paperback
First published August 7, 2012
22 people are currently reading
2250 people want to read
About the author
Susannah Noel
2 books51 followersSusannah wrote her first paranormal novel when she was twelve years old--a time-travel romance written in a spiral-bound notebook that eventually starred all her friends. Since then, she has been writing romantic fiction of all varieties, including paranormal, contemporary, and historical. She can usually be found working on her laptop.
She has a PhD in British literature and teaches at a university in Virginia. She is currently working on the third Wordless Chronicle.
She has a PhD in British literature and teaches at a university in Virginia. She is currently working on the third Wordless Chronicle.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
September 30, 2018
I knew literally nothing about this book or author when I went into this. This was a free book on Amazon that I picked up years ago and finally decided to read. And I was pleasantly surprised. This book takes place in a different world from the one we know now. A government entity called the Union is in control and all books and languages have been outlawed. Only a few people can read the Old language and they're called the Readers. Our main character is one such reader.
Following the death of her parents, Riana works hard to take care of her younger sister. She works as a Reader looking for hidden messages from the rebel groups trying to take down the Union. When her sister goes missing, she must work with these rebels to try to figure out why she was targeted and why her sister was taken.
I liked Riana as a character. She was smart and cared so much about her sister that she was willing to do anything to get her back. Including putting herself in harms way. Aside from the almost insta-love type thing that happened - which I kind of understood from her side because she had never really experienced anything in the relationship area - she was a solid characters. And the supporting characters were really interesting and added to the story.
My main issue was the world building itself. It was never clear how the world became the way it was and exactly what the rebels were rebelling against. What exactly was the Old language - was it English as we know it? And what about the secret Old language? There were just so many questions unanswered that I hoped would be answered in the sequel.
However.... the sequel is out of print and I couldn't find it anywhere I looked. And this book kind of ends on a cliffhanger of sorts. I wish I knew that going in because now everything feels unfinished and I'll never find the conclusion. And I hate unsolved plots.
Following the death of her parents, Riana works hard to take care of her younger sister. She works as a Reader looking for hidden messages from the rebel groups trying to take down the Union. When her sister goes missing, she must work with these rebels to try to figure out why she was targeted and why her sister was taken.
I liked Riana as a character. She was smart and cared so much about her sister that she was willing to do anything to get her back. Including putting herself in harms way. Aside from the almost insta-love type thing that happened - which I kind of understood from her side because she had never really experienced anything in the relationship area - she was a solid characters. And the supporting characters were really interesting and added to the story.
My main issue was the world building itself. It was never clear how the world became the way it was and exactly what the rebels were rebelling against. What exactly was the Old language - was it English as we know it? And what about the secret Old language? There were just so many questions unanswered that I hoped would be answered in the sequel.
However.... the sequel is out of print and I couldn't find it anywhere I looked. And this book kind of ends on a cliffhanger of sorts. I wish I knew that going in because now everything feels unfinished and I'll never find the conclusion. And I hate unsolved plots.
October 11, 2012
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.
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.
November 4, 2012
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 messages was top priority for a Reader. Everything else—collecting valuable information from the past, archiving fragments of literary art, sorting through documentation from the Union’s early history—all fell second to tracking down possible threats."
The main character, Riana Cole, is one of those readers. Riana is a quiet girl, of twenty two, who takes care of her younger sister. But her quiet life will change, when her sister disappears. All of a sudden, Riana becomes a walking target and everybody seem determined to get her. The reason why, its a mystery.
Mikel is a soul-breather, someone with the ability to retrieve or to discover informations regarding the people he touches. Working for the Union, Riana, is his latest target...
Then there's Connor, the "Front" leader. A former friend of Riana's, he will also try to help her in recovering her sister...
This is probably the weakest love triangle that i ever read. Riana is really clueless...
The story was interesting enough as was the world building.
In th end, my main problem was with the characters.
I understand that Riana has reasons to be portrayed the way she was. She doesn't want to call attention to herself...but in the end, she ended up being very dull and boring. The main character had to be ...MORE. Much more interesting.
Then she was too girlish in her enfatuation. Once again i understand the reason why, she has lived a very reserved life...but the word Handsome regarding Mikel was too much abused.
Connor was another too quiet character for my tastes, which left Jenson as my favorite who character.
In the end, the three stars are really for the originality of the story.
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 messages was top priority for a Reader. Everything else—collecting valuable information from the past, archiving fragments of literary art, sorting through documentation from the Union’s early history—all fell second to tracking down possible threats."
The main character, Riana Cole, is one of those readers. Riana is a quiet girl, of twenty two, who takes care of her younger sister. But her quiet life will change, when her sister disappears. All of a sudden, Riana becomes a walking target and everybody seem determined to get her. The reason why, its a mystery.
Mikel is a soul-breather, someone with the ability to retrieve or to discover informations regarding the people he touches. Working for the Union, Riana, is his latest target...
Then there's Connor, the "Front" leader. A former friend of Riana's, he will also try to help her in recovering her sister...
This is probably the weakest love triangle that i ever read. Riana is really clueless...
The story was interesting enough as was the world building.
In th end, my main problem was with the characters.
I understand that Riana has reasons to be portrayed the way she was. She doesn't want to call attention to herself...but in the end, she ended up being very dull and boring. The main character had to be ...MORE. Much more interesting.
Then she was too girlish in her enfatuation. Once again i understand the reason why, she has lived a very reserved life...but the word Handsome regarding Mikel was too much abused.
Connor was another too quiet character for my tastes, which left Jenson as my favorite who character.
In the end, the three stars are really for the originality of the story.
September 17, 2012
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 had it all figured out something subtle would happen that would change it all. Everything and everyone is revealed at just the right moment. Even the bad guy has a noble motive!
I don't think I have ever been so engulfed in a story. I felt like I was right there and I even tried talking to the characters more than once to give advise on what I thought they should do next. Good thing they didn't listen to me. I would have gotten everyone killed! (Yes that's right I was talking to fictional characters in a book, but they didn't talk back so I guess I'm still okay!)
The paranormal aspect of the book came in the form of a Soul-Breather. This is a new species to me but I quickly fell in love with them. The idea of being able to taste someones spirit with one touch was sexy as hell. I loved it!
Word and Breath is filled with mystery, suspense and lots of romance. I am impatiently awaiting the next novel in this series. I have to know what the answers are and how this amazing group of people are going to change the world.
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 had it all figured out something subtle would happen that would change it all. Everything and everyone is revealed at just the right moment. Even the bad guy has a noble motive!
I don't think I have ever been so engulfed in a story. I felt like I was right there and I even tried talking to the characters more than once to give advise on what I thought they should do next. Good thing they didn't listen to me. I would have gotten everyone killed! (Yes that's right I was talking to fictional characters in a book, but they didn't talk back so I guess I'm still okay!)
The paranormal aspect of the book came in the form of a Soul-Breather. This is a new species to me but I quickly fell in love with them. The idea of being able to taste someones spirit with one touch was sexy as hell. I loved it!
Word and Breath is filled with mystery, suspense and lots of romance. I am impatiently awaiting the next novel in this series. I have to know what the answers are and how this amazing group of people are going to change the world.
August 13, 2016
Fantastic! I really liked the character of Riana - while shy and bookish, she wasn't afraid to kick butt when those she cared about were in danger. I'm looking forward to reading the sequels!
July 19, 2014
More Reviews Here: Readers Live A Thousand Lives
Do you like dystopians? Do you like paranormal? Do you like romance? If the answer to any of those questions is yes, well then this book is for you. All of these elements are woven together seamlessly to create a breathtaking story. This story has many layers and each and every character is defined by a great amount of depth.
Our heroine Riana has always kept to herself and the only person she really cares about is her sister Jannie. So when she ends up smack in the middle of a three way war it is a bit surprising. Apparently she knows something that each of the entities wants or either wants to stay hidden. The only problem, Riana has no clue what that could possibly be and when her sister goes missing, suddenly all bets are off and Riana will do anything to get her back. I liked how determined Riana was. She put aside her own safety for the sake of her sister. I also liked that she wasn’t stone cold, she broke down at points and it was clear that she was getting overwhelmed. It made her character more believable.
All of the characters in this book are defined by a great amount of depth. We have Mikal who is torn by his feelings for Riana and a loyalty to his job. Then there is Connor who is hiding a huge secret and refuses to let Riana in on it. Neither character is completely good and they each have their own agendas. However it is also clear that they both genuinely care about Riana.
This book switches up the perspectives quite a bit and while it did take some getting used to initially, I also liked it a lot. Each character had a distinctive voice and as you got to know the characters it was easy to know immediately when the story switched to them.
Any reader will appreciate this book, because in this world very few people actually know how to read. The powers that be have made reading scarce and most things are conveyed through pictures. Books are few and far between and those that can read (the Old Language especially) are either valued or feared. Then we have the paranormal aspect of Soul-Breathers. These guys can basically sense you feeling and memories through touch from your soul. They can be incredibly dangerous, if they are not careful with their powers.
The one thing that I am a bit leery about is the potential for a love triangle. While it is not overly prominent in this one, I get the feeling that it will be as the series progresses. I am very picky about my love triangles because most of the time they just aggravate me, especially when it comes off as unbelievable. That being said, I think this one has the potential to be good, so I am interested to see where this series is going.
All in all, Word and Breath is a breathtaking (haha puns) story that is a refreshing take on a paranormal dystopian. Elements of it reminded me of Dark Kiss by Michelle Rowan, but this book left all the teenage angst behind. I recommend it to those who enjoy a good para-romance.
*I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review
Do you like dystopians? Do you like paranormal? Do you like romance? If the answer to any of those questions is yes, well then this book is for you. All of these elements are woven together seamlessly to create a breathtaking story. This story has many layers and each and every character is defined by a great amount of depth.
Our heroine Riana has always kept to herself and the only person she really cares about is her sister Jannie. So when she ends up smack in the middle of a three way war it is a bit surprising. Apparently she knows something that each of the entities wants or either wants to stay hidden. The only problem, Riana has no clue what that could possibly be and when her sister goes missing, suddenly all bets are off and Riana will do anything to get her back. I liked how determined Riana was. She put aside her own safety for the sake of her sister. I also liked that she wasn’t stone cold, she broke down at points and it was clear that she was getting overwhelmed. It made her character more believable.
All of the characters in this book are defined by a great amount of depth. We have Mikal who is torn by his feelings for Riana and a loyalty to his job. Then there is Connor who is hiding a huge secret and refuses to let Riana in on it. Neither character is completely good and they each have their own agendas. However it is also clear that they both genuinely care about Riana.
This book switches up the perspectives quite a bit and while it did take some getting used to initially, I also liked it a lot. Each character had a distinctive voice and as you got to know the characters it was easy to know immediately when the story switched to them.
Any reader will appreciate this book, because in this world very few people actually know how to read. The powers that be have made reading scarce and most things are conveyed through pictures. Books are few and far between and those that can read (the Old Language especially) are either valued or feared. Then we have the paranormal aspect of Soul-Breathers. These guys can basically sense you feeling and memories through touch from your soul. They can be incredibly dangerous, if they are not careful with their powers.
The one thing that I am a bit leery about is the potential for a love triangle. While it is not overly prominent in this one, I get the feeling that it will be as the series progresses. I am very picky about my love triangles because most of the time they just aggravate me, especially when it comes off as unbelievable. That being said, I think this one has the potential to be good, so I am interested to see where this series is going.
All in all, Word and Breath is a breathtaking (haha puns) story that is a refreshing take on a paranormal dystopian. Elements of it reminded me of Dark Kiss by Michelle Rowan, but this book left all the teenage angst behind. I recommend it to those who enjoy a good para-romance.
*I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review
December 6, 2014
This review was originally post at Northern Plunder, for other reviews please click here.
I was lucky enough and very thankful to receive a copy of Word and Breath from Susannah Noel herself and boy do I have to apologise for taking so long to post this review.
I read Word and Breath during February this year and during this time I hit a reading slump for two reasons, one I was getting bogged down with college work and two, I read a lot in January and felt frazzled. So when I think back to Word and Breath I think to myself "Woah I loved this book but I have such a bad vibe from how I felt during that time that I don't know how to tackle this review". Luckily no matter how grotty I felt in February I still enjoyed this book a lot, which I guess just shows how good it is huh? It certainly allowed me to escape.
Enough excuses, moving on. Word and Breath follows Riana in a dystopia era of our world where reading is no longer common, its pretty much died out and only a few still bother to learn. Those people often end up working for the main government to cycle through any kind of writing, organise, file it and notify the authorities of any anomalies that might lead to rebel activity and their code words. Or of course they're the ones placing the secret codes for the rebels.
Riana lives a pretty normal life for someone who can read, she doesn't have friends and looks after her sister religiously, but before long her life gets turned upside down. First she gets almost mugged, then saved by a total hottie (which by the way, is really unusual in this time because people just don't help each other), her sister is kidnapped and held hostage for reasons she doesn't even know of and sooner or later she is dragged into the rebel underworld.
Though things aren't all bad, the hottie is also a Soul-Breather, which by the way the whole concept of is amazing and I can't even begin to explain how excited I am to read the next book and see the development of his character whilst he experiences all these new things! She also gets to spend time with an old friend who disappeared a few years ago, and whilst he too shines a light for her, it isn't one of those annoying love triangles, thank g-d!
What start off as a fairly slow paced book soon turned into a whirlwind of an adventure; fast paced and guns a blazing which I was struggling to put it down for college work at times! I loved finding out about the different groups fighting for power in their world, along with the real reason for why they were so interested in Riana and the fight to get her sister back unharmed. It was a thrilling tale, and I have a feeling the second book will not fall prey to the sequel suicide club!
I was lucky enough and very thankful to receive a copy of Word and Breath from Susannah Noel herself and boy do I have to apologise for taking so long to post this review.
I read Word and Breath during February this year and during this time I hit a reading slump for two reasons, one I was getting bogged down with college work and two, I read a lot in January and felt frazzled. So when I think back to Word and Breath I think to myself "Woah I loved this book but I have such a bad vibe from how I felt during that time that I don't know how to tackle this review". Luckily no matter how grotty I felt in February I still enjoyed this book a lot, which I guess just shows how good it is huh? It certainly allowed me to escape.
Enough excuses, moving on. Word and Breath follows Riana in a dystopia era of our world where reading is no longer common, its pretty much died out and only a few still bother to learn. Those people often end up working for the main government to cycle through any kind of writing, organise, file it and notify the authorities of any anomalies that might lead to rebel activity and their code words. Or of course they're the ones placing the secret codes for the rebels.
Riana lives a pretty normal life for someone who can read, she doesn't have friends and looks after her sister religiously, but before long her life gets turned upside down. First she gets almost mugged, then saved by a total hottie (which by the way, is really unusual in this time because people just don't help each other), her sister is kidnapped and held hostage for reasons she doesn't even know of and sooner or later she is dragged into the rebel underworld.
Though things aren't all bad, the hottie is also a Soul-Breather, which by the way the whole concept of is amazing and I can't even begin to explain how excited I am to read the next book and see the development of his character whilst he experiences all these new things! She also gets to spend time with an old friend who disappeared a few years ago, and whilst he too shines a light for her, it isn't one of those annoying love triangles, thank g-d!
What start off as a fairly slow paced book soon turned into a whirlwind of an adventure; fast paced and guns a blazing which I was struggling to put it down for college work at times! I loved finding out about the different groups fighting for power in their world, along with the real reason for why they were so interested in Riana and the fight to get her sister back unharmed. It was a thrilling tale, and I have a feeling the second book will not fall prey to the sequel suicide club!
April 19, 2015
This book 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 builds up, Rianna Cole just goes about her life, her boring job and taking care of her wheelchair bound sister. She resigned herself to an uneventful life…that is until she gets pulled in and can’t resist fighting for what’s right.
♥ Rianna
She is a dowdy thing at first glance, but underneath the bland exterior she has a passion for life and love. She is actually beautiful, which she isn’t aware of so that made me like her even more. As I read though, I expected to make a connection with her, but it never truly happened.
♥ The Men
Mikel: well, I don’t like him. I think I’m supposed to but I don’t.
Connor: I like him, he is described as a little clumsy, but since he is the force behind the Front then I knew he was powerful and I liked it. Nothing like a man in charge to catch my interest.
♥ The Romance/Chemistry
wahhh, nothing! I felt nothing, and it was totally wrong for me. However *rubs hands* maybe the next book it will turn around for me.
♥ Twists and Turns
Oh, holy double crossing everywhere. I’m not sure if there were any actual twists and turns, but there are a lot of double agents. I’m not sure who, but clearly almost no one can be trusted. I only trusted Rianna, Jannie and Connor. No one else. There are moles everywhere!
♥ Reading and Breathing (the magical element of the story)
I adore any dystopian society that throws some magic in there. It’s like the story is taken up a notch. I love the Soul Breathers. It truly made anything possible as I turned the pages. I also think there is more magic to be discovered in the next book.
♥ Gripes:
People not reading yet having all this technology? I mean, 5 year old children learn how to read so it doesn’t make sense that adults wouldn’t learn in a very short time. It just didn’t match up for me. However, I made peace with this inconsistency and enjoyed the story.
♥ The Ending
Probably what I expected, but I guess what everyone is battling over isn’t clear. I wish we’d known a little more.
♥ Rec it?
Yes, it was a fun and quick read. The setting has been set, we now know where everyone stands (at least on the surface) so the next round of battling can begin! A very solid 3 stars.
**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 builds up, Rianna Cole just goes about her life, her boring job and taking care of her wheelchair bound sister. She resigned herself to an uneventful life…that is until she gets pulled in and can’t resist fighting for what’s right.
♥ Rianna
She is a dowdy thing at first glance, but underneath the bland exterior she has a passion for life and love. She is actually beautiful, which she isn’t aware of so that made me like her even more. As I read though, I expected to make a connection with her, but it never truly happened.
♥ The Men
Mikel: well, I don’t like him. I think I’m supposed to but I don’t.
Connor: I like him, he is described as a little clumsy, but since he is the force behind the Front then I knew he was powerful and I liked it. Nothing like a man in charge to catch my interest.
♥ The Romance/Chemistry
wahhh, nothing! I felt nothing, and it was totally wrong for me. However *rubs hands* maybe the next book it will turn around for me.
♥ Twists and Turns
Oh, holy double crossing everywhere. I’m not sure if there were any actual twists and turns, but there are a lot of double agents. I’m not sure who, but clearly almost no one can be trusted. I only trusted Rianna, Jannie and Connor. No one else. There are moles everywhere!
♥ Reading and Breathing (the magical element of the story)
I adore any dystopian society that throws some magic in there. It’s like the story is taken up a notch. I love the Soul Breathers. It truly made anything possible as I turned the pages. I also think there is more magic to be discovered in the next book.
♥ Gripes:
People not reading yet having all this technology? I mean, 5 year old children learn how to read so it doesn’t make sense that adults wouldn’t learn in a very short time. It just didn’t match up for me. However, I made peace with this inconsistency and enjoyed the story.
♥ The Ending
Probably what I expected, but I guess what everyone is battling over isn’t clear. I wish we’d known a little more.
♥ Rec it?
Yes, it was a fun and quick read. The setting has been set, we now know where everyone stands (at least on the surface) so the next round of battling can begin! A very solid 3 stars.
October 28, 2012
Reviewed by Kristi at My keeper shelf
Dystopian novels are certainly becoming more and more popular. It is one of those genres that just intrigues people. A truly mind grabbing dystopian novel must throw the reader into another world and keep us entertained in it. Personally, I think Susannah Noel has nailed it!
Riana Cole is a 22 year old Reader. She works for the Office of the Readers to "read" codes and other questionable messages. Five centuries ago, the Cataclysm destroyed almost everything. Most folks of the Union Government cannot read and depend on the Readers to decode messages in the written text. Rianna is also the care-giver to her handicap sister.
Next we have sexy Mikel, a Soul-Breather. A Soul-Breather is able to breathe out memories and information by simply touching another person. I loved the paranormal twist that Mikel brought to this book. Connor is Riana's long lost best friend. He is equally crush worthy! And of course brings the third element to the impending love triangle. Riana will discover why he had disappeared and how can he now help her in her time of need.
Connor and Mikel must help Rianna find her sister who has been kidnapped. While the three of them are on an obvious mission to find the missing sister, Riana realizes maybe things and people aren't necessarily what they seem!
If you love dystopian, paranormal, mystery, and romance - you will love this book! There are so many aspects to this book that, I am sure you will get lost in their world!
Dystopian novels are certainly becoming more and more popular. It is one of those genres that just intrigues people. A truly mind grabbing dystopian novel must throw the reader into another world and keep us entertained in it. Personally, I think Susannah Noel has nailed it!
Riana Cole is a 22 year old Reader. She works for the Office of the Readers to "read" codes and other questionable messages. Five centuries ago, the Cataclysm destroyed almost everything. Most folks of the Union Government cannot read and depend on the Readers to decode messages in the written text. Rianna is also the care-giver to her handicap sister.
Next we have sexy Mikel, a Soul-Breather. A Soul-Breather is able to breathe out memories and information by simply touching another person. I loved the paranormal twist that Mikel brought to this book. Connor is Riana's long lost best friend. He is equally crush worthy! And of course brings the third element to the impending love triangle. Riana will discover why he had disappeared and how can he now help her in her time of need.
Connor and Mikel must help Rianna find her sister who has been kidnapped. While the three of them are on an obvious mission to find the missing sister, Riana realizes maybe things and people aren't necessarily what they seem!
If you love dystopian, paranormal, mystery, and romance - you will love this book! There are so many aspects to this book that, I am sure you will get lost in their world!
October 27, 2012
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 a past everyone wants a part of. The Union (the new government) want's her for unknown reasons you don't learn about until the end of the book. The Zealots want her dead because she can read, and because she can read the Old Language. The Front, I won't talk about, it's a huge spoiler. Here is the shocker though, Susannah Noel has thrown in an amazingly handsome man and a race of his people the Union uses to find out what people are thinking, feeling, and their intentions. And they've sent one after Riana, but he's falling for her and doesn't even know it, all he knows is he'd do anything to protect her from the people who sent him after her. Read the book! REEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAD IT! It's amazing. Can't wait for #2 <3
November 20, 2014
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 into an underground rebel movement. Her sister gets kidnapped, she gets shot at, and an incredibly sexy Soul-Breather named Mikel is interested in her. She soon learns that his interest was initially to betray her. Riana also reunites with Conner, a long lost friend, that is willing to help her find her sister and answers to her problems. The the two men swallow their pride and work together to solve Riana's problems.
One of my many favourite quotes:
"Have you ever met someone's eyes-maybe just accidentally across a room-and you made a connection with them? For just that instant you know what they're feeling. You feel what they're feeling. You've connected."
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 into an underground rebel movement. Her sister gets kidnapped, she gets shot at, and an incredibly sexy Soul-Breather named Mikel is interested in her. She soon learns that his interest was initially to betray her. Riana also reunites with Conner, a long lost friend, that is willing to help her find her sister and answers to her problems. The the two men swallow their pride and work together to solve Riana's problems.
One of my many favourite quotes:
"Have you ever met someone's eyes-maybe just accidentally across a room-and you made a connection with them? For just that instant you know what they're feeling. You feel what they're feeling. You've connected."
May 17, 2013
This book was mostly OK, and a quick read, but I admit I expected more from what was an exciting premise.
I think the story could've benefitted from more development. For instance, while the world depicted in it seemed interesting, it lacked that little something that would've made it appear like a real dystopia for me; as a result, it remained a bland backdrop. Same with the characters, who went about their business without leaving me much of an impression. I couldn't really connect with them (actually, the one who seemed most interesting to me died...). And let's not start about the love triangle that wasn't really one.
Perhaps the biggest problem for me was the narrative: it told a lot about the characters and setting, and didn't allow me to get a proper feeling about them, if this makes sense. As a result, I remained pretty indifferent most of the way.
I think the story could've benefitted from more development. For instance, while the world depicted in it seemed interesting, it lacked that little something that would've made it appear like a real dystopia for me; as a result, it remained a bland backdrop. Same with the characters, who went about their business without leaving me much of an impression. I couldn't really connect with them (actually, the one who seemed most interesting to me died...). And let's not start about the love triangle that wasn't really one.
Perhaps the biggest problem for me was the narrative: it told a lot about the characters and setting, and didn't allow me to get a proper feeling about them, if this makes sense. As a result, I remained pretty indifferent most of the way.
December 23, 2017
Good book
You people should just read this book yourselves and write your own review on this novel yourself and I really enjoyed reading this book very much so. Shelley MA
You people should just read this book yourselves and write your own review on this novel yourself and I really enjoyed reading this book very much so. Shelley MA
October 16, 2012
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.
October 8, 2012
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.
http://openbooksociety.com/article/wo...
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.
http://openbooksociety.com/article/wo...
September 15, 2012
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!
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!
August 23, 2012
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!
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!
April 19, 2015
This book 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 builds up, Rianna Cole just goes about her life, her boring job and taking care of her wheelchair bound sister. She resigned herself to an uneventful life…that is until she gets pulled in and can’t resist fighting for what’s right.
♥ Rianna
She is a dowdy thing at first glance, but underneath the bland exterior she has a passion for life and love. She is actually beautiful, which she isn’t aware of so that made me like her even more. As I read though, I expected to make a connection with her, but it never truly happened.
♥ The Men
Mikel: well, I don’t like him. I think I’m supposed to but I don’t.
Connor: I like him, he is described as a little clumsy, but since he is the force behind the Front then I knew he was powerful and I liked it. Nothing like a man in charge to catch my interest.
♥ The Romance/Chemistry
wahhh, nothing! I felt nothing, and it was totally wrong for me. However *rubs hands* maybe the next book it will turn around for me.
♥ Twists and Turns
Oh, holy double crossing everywhere. I’m not sure if there were any actual twists and turns, but there are a lot of double agents. I’m not sure who, but clearly almost no one can be trusted. I only trusted Rianna, Jannie and Connor. No one else. There are moles everywhere!
♥ Reading and Breathing (the magical element of the story)
I adore any dystopian society that throws some magic in there. It’s like the story is taken up a notch. I love the Soul Breathers. It truly made anything possible as I turned the pages. I also think there is more magic to be discovered in the next book.
♥ Gripes:
People not reading yet having all this technology? I mean, 5 year old children learn how to read so it doesn’t make sense that adults wouldn’t learn in a very short time. It just didn’t match up for me. However, I made peace with this inconsistency and enjoyed the story.
♥ The Ending
Probably what I expected, but I guess what everyone is battling over isn’t clear. I wish we’d known a little more.
♥ Rec it?
Yes, it was a fun and quick read. The setting has been set, we now know where everyone stands (at least on the surface) so the next round of battling can begin! A very solid 3 stars.
**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 builds up, Rianna Cole just goes about her life, her boring job and taking care of her wheelchair bound sister. She resigned herself to an uneventful life…that is until she gets pulled in and can’t resist fighting for what’s right.
♥ Rianna
She is a dowdy thing at first glance, but underneath the bland exterior she has a passion for life and love. She is actually beautiful, which she isn’t aware of so that made me like her even more. As I read though, I expected to make a connection with her, but it never truly happened.
♥ The Men
Mikel: well, I don’t like him. I think I’m supposed to but I don’t.
Connor: I like him, he is described as a little clumsy, but since he is the force behind the Front then I knew he was powerful and I liked it. Nothing like a man in charge to catch my interest.
♥ The Romance/Chemistry
wahhh, nothing! I felt nothing, and it was totally wrong for me. However *rubs hands* maybe the next book it will turn around for me.
♥ Twists and Turns
Oh, holy double crossing everywhere. I’m not sure if there were any actual twists and turns, but there are a lot of double agents. I’m not sure who, but clearly almost no one can be trusted. I only trusted Rianna, Jannie and Connor. No one else. There are moles everywhere!
♥ Reading and Breathing (the magical element of the story)
I adore any dystopian society that throws some magic in there. It’s like the story is taken up a notch. I love the Soul Breathers. It truly made anything possible as I turned the pages. I also think there is more magic to be discovered in the next book.
♥ Gripes:
People not reading yet having all this technology? I mean, 5 year old children learn how to read so it doesn’t make sense that adults wouldn’t learn in a very short time. It just didn’t match up for me. However, I made peace with this inconsistency and enjoyed the story.
♥ The Ending
Probably what I expected, but I guess what everyone is battling over isn’t clear. I wish we’d known a little more.
♥ Rec it?
Yes, it was a fun and quick read. The setting has been set, we now know where everyone stands (at least on the surface) so the next round of battling can begin! A very solid 3 stars.
September 28, 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 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!
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!
October 7, 2012
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...
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...
November 25, 2012
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 builds up, Rianna Cole just goes about her life, her boring job and taking care of her wheelchair bound sister. She resigned herself to an uneventful life…that is until she gets pulled in and can’t resist fighting for what’s right.
♥ Rianna
She is a dowdy thing at first glance, but underneath the bland exterior she has a passion for life and love. She is actually beautiful, which she isn’t aware of so that made me like her even more. As I read though, I expected to make a connection with her, but it never truly happened.
♥ The Men
Mikel: well, I don’t like him. I think I’m supposed to but I don’t.
Connor: I like him, he is described as a little clumsy, but since he is the force behind the Front then I knew he was powerful and I liked it. Nothing like a man in charge to catch my interest.
♥ The Romance/Chemistry
wahhh, nothing! I felt nothing, and it was totally wrong for me. However *rubs hands* maybe the next book it will turn around for me.
♥ Twists and Turns
Oh, holy double crossing everywhere. I’m not sure if there were any actual twists and turns, but there are a lot of double agents. I’m not sure who, but clearly almost no one can be trusted. I only trusted Rianna, Jannie and Connor. No one else. There are moles everywhere!
♥ Reading and Breathing (the magical element of the story)
I adore any dystopian society that throws some magic in there. It’s like the story is taken up a notch. I love the Soul Breathers. It truly made anything possible as I turned the pages. I also think there is more magic to be discovered in the next book.
♥ Gripes:
People not reading yet having all this technology? I mean, 5 year old children learn how to read so it doesn’t make sense that adults wouldn’t learn in a very short time. It just didn’t match up for me. However, I made peace with this inconsistency and enjoyed the story.
♥ The Ending
Probably what I expected, but I guess what everyone is battling over isn’t clear. I wish we’d known a little more.
♥ Rec it?
Yes, it was a fun and quick read. The setting has been set, we now know where everyone stands (at least on the surface) so the next round of battling can begin! A very solid 3 stars.
**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 builds up, Rianna Cole just goes about her life, her boring job and taking care of her wheelchair bound sister. She resigned herself to an uneventful life…that is until she gets pulled in and can’t resist fighting for what’s right.
♥ Rianna
She is a dowdy thing at first glance, but underneath the bland exterior she has a passion for life and love. She is actually beautiful, which she isn’t aware of so that made me like her even more. As I read though, I expected to make a connection with her, but it never truly happened.
♥ The Men
Mikel: well, I don’t like him. I think I’m supposed to but I don’t.
Connor: I like him, he is described as a little clumsy, but since he is the force behind the Front then I knew he was powerful and I liked it. Nothing like a man in charge to catch my interest.
♥ The Romance/Chemistry
wahhh, nothing! I felt nothing, and it was totally wrong for me. However *rubs hands* maybe the next book it will turn around for me.
♥ Twists and Turns
Oh, holy double crossing everywhere. I’m not sure if there were any actual twists and turns, but there are a lot of double agents. I’m not sure who, but clearly almost no one can be trusted. I only trusted Rianna, Jannie and Connor. No one else. There are moles everywhere!
♥ Reading and Breathing (the magical element of the story)
I adore any dystopian society that throws some magic in there. It’s like the story is taken up a notch. I love the Soul Breathers. It truly made anything possible as I turned the pages. I also think there is more magic to be discovered in the next book.
♥ Gripes:
People not reading yet having all this technology? I mean, 5 year old children learn how to read so it doesn’t make sense that adults wouldn’t learn in a very short time. It just didn’t match up for me. However, I made peace with this inconsistency and enjoyed the story.
♥ The Ending
Probably what I expected, but I guess what everyone is battling over isn’t clear. I wish we’d known a little more.
♥ Rec it?
Yes, it was a fun and quick read. The setting has been set, we now know where everyone stands (at least on the surface) so the next round of battling can begin! A very solid 3 stars.
October 31, 2012
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.
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.
November 28, 2012
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.
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.
November 8, 2012
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 feeling after reading the synopsis that this was going to be one of those reads like no other I have read before and I wasn't wrong.
As each page and chapter progressed I felt my self sucked more into the story. I was curious about the setting and the characters. About how unique the world that Riana lived in felt.
It kind of reminded me of a more prehistoric setting than one that is suppose to be set decades in the future.
Most of the world can't read or write and Riana, being one of those few who can, has a job with the government, the Union, to read old letters and books to find any hidden clues. messages or correspondence from the rebels in the underground.
Some how along the way she stumbles upon some things she wasn't suppose to and all hell kind of breaks lose from there.
I love books that can hold their own, that have new ideas and concepts that haven't been done a million times over, something that I am finding is becoming harder and harder to find in the paranormal genre. This book doesn't have any issues with that however, the idea of a Soul Breather is very much original and creative in thought and design.
Someone who could take a small piece of another person's spirit and with it their memories and thoughts, all through a simple touch.
And of course, the Soul Breather (or just Breather as they are commonly called) in this case would be have to be someone irresistible, someone like Mikel.
I really liked Mikel but I have to say, Connor was the one that won me over.
I don't want to give anything away but this was so much more than I thought it would be. It is filled with so many conspiracies and so much is going on that it will be really interesting to see where the author takes the next book in the series.
My only complaint is that I wish there would have been a little more background on their world as far as what led up to where they are today, with most of the population illiterate and the beliefs about love and romance what they are. I am hoping we will get a little more of that in the next one. A better idea and explanation about it all.
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 feeling after reading the synopsis that this was going to be one of those reads like no other I have read before and I wasn't wrong.
As each page and chapter progressed I felt my self sucked more into the story. I was curious about the setting and the characters. About how unique the world that Riana lived in felt.
It kind of reminded me of a more prehistoric setting than one that is suppose to be set decades in the future.
Most of the world can't read or write and Riana, being one of those few who can, has a job with the government, the Union, to read old letters and books to find any hidden clues. messages or correspondence from the rebels in the underground.
Some how along the way she stumbles upon some things she wasn't suppose to and all hell kind of breaks lose from there.
I love books that can hold their own, that have new ideas and concepts that haven't been done a million times over, something that I am finding is becoming harder and harder to find in the paranormal genre. This book doesn't have any issues with that however, the idea of a Soul Breather is very much original and creative in thought and design.
Someone who could take a small piece of another person's spirit and with it their memories and thoughts, all through a simple touch.
And of course, the Soul Breather (or just Breather as they are commonly called) in this case would be have to be someone irresistible, someone like Mikel.
I really liked Mikel but I have to say, Connor was the one that won me over.
I don't want to give anything away but this was so much more than I thought it would be. It is filled with so many conspiracies and so much is going on that it will be really interesting to see where the author takes the next book in the series.
My only complaint is that I wish there would have been a little more background on their world as far as what led up to where they are today, with most of the population illiterate and the beliefs about love and romance what they are. I am hoping we will get a little more of that in the next one. A better idea and explanation about it all.
November 4, 2012
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 feeling after reading the synopsis that this was going to be one of those reads like no other I have read before and I wasn't wrong.
As each page and chapter progressed I felt my self sucked more into the story. I was curious about the setting and the characters. About how unique the world that Riana lived in felt.
It kind of reminded me of a more prehistoric setting than one that is suppose to be set decades in the future.
Most of the world can't read or write and Riana, being one of those few who can, has a job with the government, the Union, to read old letters and books to find any hidden clues. messages or correspondence from the rebels in the underground.
Some how along the way she stumbles upon some things she wasn't suppose to and all hell kind of breaks lose from there.
I love books that can hold their own, that have new ideas and concepts that haven't been done a million times over, something that I am finding is becoming harder and harder to find in the paranormal genre. This book doesn't have any issues with that however, the idea of a Soul Breather is very much original and creative in thought and design.
Someone who could take a small piece of another person's spirit and with it their memories and thoughts, all through a simple touch.
And of course, the Soul Breather (or just Breather as they are commonly called) in this case would be have to be someone irresistible, someone like Mikel.
I really liked Mikel but I have to say, Connor was the one that won me over.
I don't want to give anything away but this was so much more than I thought it would be. It is filled with so many conspiracies and so much is going on that it will be really interesting to see where the author takes the next book in the series.
My only complaint is that I wish there would have been a little more background on their world as far as what led up to where they are today, with most of the population illiterate and the beliefs about love and romance what they are. I am hoping we will get a little more of that in the next one. A better idea and explanation about it all.
I give this one 4 Stars!
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 feeling after reading the synopsis that this was going to be one of those reads like no other I have read before and I wasn't wrong.
As each page and chapter progressed I felt my self sucked more into the story. I was curious about the setting and the characters. About how unique the world that Riana lived in felt.
It kind of reminded me of a more prehistoric setting than one that is suppose to be set decades in the future.
Most of the world can't read or write and Riana, being one of those few who can, has a job with the government, the Union, to read old letters and books to find any hidden clues. messages or correspondence from the rebels in the underground.
Some how along the way she stumbles upon some things she wasn't suppose to and all hell kind of breaks lose from there.
I love books that can hold their own, that have new ideas and concepts that haven't been done a million times over, something that I am finding is becoming harder and harder to find in the paranormal genre. This book doesn't have any issues with that however, the idea of a Soul Breather is very much original and creative in thought and design.
Someone who could take a small piece of another person's spirit and with it their memories and thoughts, all through a simple touch.
And of course, the Soul Breather (or just Breather as they are commonly called) in this case would be have to be someone irresistible, someone like Mikel.
I really liked Mikel but I have to say, Connor was the one that won me over.
I don't want to give anything away but this was so much more than I thought it would be. It is filled with so many conspiracies and so much is going on that it will be really interesting to see where the author takes the next book in the series.
My only complaint is that I wish there would have been a little more background on their world as far as what led up to where they are today, with most of the population illiterate and the beliefs about love and romance what they are. I am hoping we will get a little more of that in the next one. A better idea and explanation about it all.
I give this one 4 Stars!
January 10, 2013
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. :)
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. :)
September 21, 2012
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.
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.
September 29, 2012
When I was asked to read this book I though that, okay this is going to be an interesting book. And it was. The author did a good job in writing a book that was entertaining. Her writing is clean and crisp and is written were you get multiple POV's. The multiple POV's is something that adds to the story. Since there is so much going on, have the view of different people allows you to have a diferent take on the story.
The story mainly follows Riana. She is a Reader for the Union. What is that you say? Basically she reads pieces of paper and texts for the Union to find hidden codes and messages in them. The Union, which is the government, keeps a tight reign on everyone and wants to make sure that no one is going against them. Riana's sister is kidnapped as a ploy to get Riana to do what the kidnappers want. It becomes a game of who done it as she and Mikel try and find her sister in time.
Since I mentioned Mikel lets talk about him. He is a Soul Breather. Upon reading that I assumed that he sucked out your soul and it killed the victim. That would put a damper on any relationship he wants to have with Riana. Come to find out it doesn't work like that. He takes a little bit of your soul or emotions and they regenerate themselves. Really? Ok, that's kinda cool. Even though he has this ability I have to say I don't really like Mikel with Riana. He is just one of those characters I could not connect with. Plus his deception of Riana at first was not right. I wouldn't have forgiven him.
There are a lot of great characters in this book. Conner is one of them. He has the sexy geek look going for him. Also Tava is Soul Breather too but unlike Mikel she comes across as more human. And because she does it makes it easier for you to like her.
The storyline is different. I like that. I can't wait to find out what happens next. This is one of those stories that ventues into Dystopian but the world in this book is not crumpled it just is very controlled by the Union. There is a hint of Paranormal with the Soul Breathers.
Overall I thought that the cover was beautiful and the author wrote a good book. I look forward to the rest of the series. This a great Dystopian series for adults. It has some violence and the sexuality is to a minimum.
I received this book courtesy of the author in exchange for an honest reveiew.
The story mainly follows Riana. She is a Reader for the Union. What is that you say? Basically she reads pieces of paper and texts for the Union to find hidden codes and messages in them. The Union, which is the government, keeps a tight reign on everyone and wants to make sure that no one is going against them. Riana's sister is kidnapped as a ploy to get Riana to do what the kidnappers want. It becomes a game of who done it as she and Mikel try and find her sister in time.
Since I mentioned Mikel lets talk about him. He is a Soul Breather. Upon reading that I assumed that he sucked out your soul and it killed the victim. That would put a damper on any relationship he wants to have with Riana. Come to find out it doesn't work like that. He takes a little bit of your soul or emotions and they regenerate themselves. Really? Ok, that's kinda cool. Even though he has this ability I have to say I don't really like Mikel with Riana. He is just one of those characters I could not connect with. Plus his deception of Riana at first was not right. I wouldn't have forgiven him.
There are a lot of great characters in this book. Conner is one of them. He has the sexy geek look going for him. Also Tava is Soul Breather too but unlike Mikel she comes across as more human. And because she does it makes it easier for you to like her.
The storyline is different. I like that. I can't wait to find out what happens next. This is one of those stories that ventues into Dystopian but the world in this book is not crumpled it just is very controlled by the Union. There is a hint of Paranormal with the Soul Breathers.
Overall I thought that the cover was beautiful and the author wrote a good book. I look forward to the rest of the series. This a great Dystopian series for adults. It has some violence and the sexuality is to a minimum.
I received this book courtesy of the author in exchange for an honest reveiew.
August 26, 2012
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 Readers to look for suspicious messages and for collection of important information from the past. Riana just wants to do her job and take care of her handicapped sister, Jannie. Unfortunately, the Union has other ideas for Riana and they are not the only ones who want something from her. Riana’s world is about to alter and there’s nothing she can do to stop it.
Mikel is a Soul-Breather; he can breathe out a specific memory or piece of information from anyone with a touch. When Riana is suspected to have ties to the Front, a known rebel group, the Union hires Mikel to tail her and to find out if she’s hiding anything, but can he do what he was hired to without falling for her? You’ll have to read it to find out J
Reed Connor is a former co-worker and former crush of Riana’s, he left three years ago and she hasn’t heard from him since, but that’s about to change. When someone Riana loves disappears she needs help from both Connor and Mikel to find them.
Word and Breath is a riveting and magnificent read. It’s enthralling and will have you mesmerized from the very first page. This story was fast paced and the characters were wonderful, I can’t wait to get my hands on the next book in this series.
*Word and Breath was provided to me free of charge by the author in exchange for an honest review.
All opinions are my own.
Quotes:
“I can’t believe you went out of your way to help me. I didn’t think men made gallant efforts at rescue anymore.”
‘But she’d done something different, noteworthy, rebellious. She felt rather pleased with herself.’
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 Readers to look for suspicious messages and for collection of important information from the past. Riana just wants to do her job and take care of her handicapped sister, Jannie. Unfortunately, the Union has other ideas for Riana and they are not the only ones who want something from her. Riana’s world is about to alter and there’s nothing she can do to stop it.
Mikel is a Soul-Breather; he can breathe out a specific memory or piece of information from anyone with a touch. When Riana is suspected to have ties to the Front, a known rebel group, the Union hires Mikel to tail her and to find out if she’s hiding anything, but can he do what he was hired to without falling for her? You’ll have to read it to find out J
Reed Connor is a former co-worker and former crush of Riana’s, he left three years ago and she hasn’t heard from him since, but that’s about to change. When someone Riana loves disappears she needs help from both Connor and Mikel to find them.
Word and Breath is a riveting and magnificent read. It’s enthralling and will have you mesmerized from the very first page. This story was fast paced and the characters were wonderful, I can’t wait to get my hands on the next book in this series.
*Word and Breath was provided to me free of charge by the author in exchange for an honest review.
All opinions are my own.
Quotes:
“I can’t believe you went out of your way to help me. I didn’t think men made gallant efforts at rescue anymore.”
‘But she’d done something different, noteworthy, rebellious. She felt rather pleased with herself.’
April 24, 2013
I got a copy for review in exchange for an honest review.
I finished word and breath in one day, the story is fast paced and interesting. For once the main girl is actually just a normal person, who tries to mind her own business and doens't try to attract attention. Until that all changes.
The story is interesting and original. However the first few chapters feel a bit rushed and it takes some time before the story get's really good. The story is written very well and I liked seeing the perspective from more than one person, the book is written by multiple perspecitives and i think this really adds to the story!
The characters were likeable and mostly acted very believeable and in-character. Although the falling in love part could've done a bit better, because it is practically told they fall in love and I would've loved to experience this together with the characters, which unfortunately doens't happen. This only concerns the beginning of the story and later on the love is developed very well. I did like getting to know the multiple characters and getting a good idea what their motives and values are. Also there is a sort of love triangle, but it is worked out very believeable.
The world building is very interesting, although it is a world in which I wouldn't want to live. There aren't many people who can read and reading isn't encouraged. On the other hand I did like the focus this placed on those who can read and their importance. I think it's original to base a dystophia world on this, but I did feel like there should've been more world building. It isn't entirely clear what happened to the world to make it this way and the focus is only on a small portion of the world. I had no idea what the rest of the world is like, although there where made a few comments about this, I would've liked it if the world building was more eleborate.
To conclude: an interesting an original story. I liked the multiple perspectives and the characters. The world building could've done a bit more elaborate, but I really enjoyed reading it and am looking forward to the next book.
I finished word and breath in one day, the story is fast paced and interesting. For once the main girl is actually just a normal person, who tries to mind her own business and doens't try to attract attention. Until that all changes.
The story is interesting and original. However the first few chapters feel a bit rushed and it takes some time before the story get's really good. The story is written very well and I liked seeing the perspective from more than one person, the book is written by multiple perspecitives and i think this really adds to the story!
The characters were likeable and mostly acted very believeable and in-character. Although the falling in love part could've done a bit better, because it is practically told they fall in love and I would've loved to experience this together with the characters, which unfortunately doens't happen. This only concerns the beginning of the story and later on the love is developed very well. I did like getting to know the multiple characters and getting a good idea what their motives and values are. Also there is a sort of love triangle, but it is worked out very believeable.
The world building is very interesting, although it is a world in which I wouldn't want to live. There aren't many people who can read and reading isn't encouraged. On the other hand I did like the focus this placed on those who can read and their importance. I think it's original to base a dystophia world on this, but I did feel like there should've been more world building. It isn't entirely clear what happened to the world to make it this way and the focus is only on a small portion of the world. I had no idea what the rest of the world is like, although there where made a few comments about this, I would've liked it if the world building was more eleborate.
To conclude: an interesting an original story. I liked the multiple perspectives and the characters. The world building could've done a bit more elaborate, but I really enjoyed reading it and am looking forward to the next book.
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