The Exemeus

The Exemeus #1

by Folami Morris, Abeni Morris

Hyalee Smith is dead, she just doesn’t know it yet.

Her short life was devoted to love and to hate. Love of the man who stole her heart, hate for the man who stole the world. Murdered by the government she swore to destroy, she has been given another chance to make it right. But to save the planet, she needs the help of the most powerful mystic the world has ever seen—unfortunately he hasn’t been born yet.

In a world where fear is the only currency, Dephon has committed the ultimate crime:inspiring hope.

His only goal is to make it safely through ninth grade, but on a post-apocalyptic Earth run by the Treptonian government, it isn’t that simple. Heir to a legendary power, Dephon Johnson is the only threat to the government’s rule. And on Trepton, all threats must be eliminated. When hundreds of assassins are dispatched to neutralize him, Dephon is forced to fight back. His only chance of survival is to enlist the aid of the greatest warrior the world has ever known. The only problem is, she's been dead for 13 years.

Genres: Fantasy, Dystopia, Young Adult, Romance, Adventure, Science Fiction, Paranormal

337 pages, Paperback

First published January 3, 2013

Reviews

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The summary does not do this story justice. Nor is it quite how I would describe this book. It is SO much more! This has been one of the greatest books I have read so far this year!
The book starts off with young Dephon meeeting a strange woman and given a book (The Exemeus) and told he has 10 days to read it before others would try to kill him. He learns his life is much more than he grew up knowing and it is about to be turned completely upside down.
The setting is a couple decades in the future from current times. A world where no one goes outsidem schools are outlawed and an unearthly force rules the planet. His father is not who he seems and the book holds the answers.
Most of this novel is actually set in time to the book Dephon is reading-The Exemeus. It is like a living diary of his mother and what led to the current state of things. I do not want to say too much for fear of spoiling anything.
What I will say, is that this book is almost like a prequel that has me wanting to urge the authors to quickly come out with the next volume to I can see what happens next. The characters are amazing. Hyalee is so very realistic and easy to feel for (and with) I easily felt like I was right along beside her as she goes through her journey. Or perhaps I should say along Dephon as he reads about it. Another fun one is the rooster Kayin. I would love a rooster (or any animal) like him. He brings out ones inner child. even if all you are doing is reading about him.
The pace is perfect. Once I started, I didn't want to stop, and yet I had to at times, just to 'pounce around,' knowing this is only this first book and that some of my 'What will happen next?' questions were not going to be answered. Magic, other worlds, oppressive governments, fantastic creatures await. Perfect for teens and adults alike. A great start to a new series!

[Majanka · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought dystopian wasn’t for me. I thought I’d seen it all when I read The Hunger Games, enjoyed it, but then suffered endlessly as the book was turned into a movie and the dystopian hype began. Book after book set in said genre passed my review cue, and I thought it would never end.

After reading The Exemeus, I’m glad it didn’t. I’m glad that, despite how I felt baout the genre, I gave this one a shot. Because it was awesome.

Hyalee is the greastest warrior Trepton has ever known. But she’s been dead for thirteen years. Unfortunately though, teenager Dephon desperately needs her help. He’s the heir to a legendary power, and because of that, the government of Trepton wants to see him destroyed. Trepton is a dystopian society if I’ve ever seen one. Its rules are strict, any form of rebellion is quickly stopped, and whoever brings the citizens an ounce of hope is eliminated. That faith awaits Dephon, if he can’t put a stop to Trepton’s tyranny.

I thought all dystopian societies followed a pretty standard format, but I was pleasantly surprised with Trepton. It stood out, and felt more original somehow. Dephon, the main character, has to be one of my favorite main characters in young adult books ever. For starters, he’s a guy. For some reason most young adult books feature female main characters, so I was glad this time around we got to deal with a boy. Secondly, he’s a fun mix of intelligence, courage, teenage awkwardness and hilarity.

The plot itself moved fast, and it was filled with so many surprises I hadn’t seen coming that it kept me on the edge of my seat. The book is pretty long, more than 500 pages, but I didn’t get the feeling it was long at all while reading. The interactions between the characters was natural, their voices authentic and original. I enjoyed the writing style as well. The authors managed to give a lot of detail without rambling off descriptions.

A highly recommended novel for everyone who enjoys young adult fantasy.

[Heidi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three and a half stars: A fantasy, dystopian blend that is very unique.

Dephon is just trying to survive the ninth grade, he has no intention of trying to change the world and oust the current dictator of the Treptonian government. He has plenty to deal with on his own such as the menacing football jocks. When Dephon comes home one day to find his father not in his normal spot on the couch, he knows something is up. What he doesn't expect is to find out he is a descended from a magical line and he will be inheriting his magical powers soon. Can Dephon with the help of a few magical friends try and save the world?
What I Liked:
**I went into this one a bit hesitant. I do enjoy a good fantasy every now and then, but not always are they are good fit for me. Needless to say, I was pleasantly surprised to find myself drawn into this book. I was impressed with the complex and imaginative story, engaging characters and whole new magical worlds. I appreciated that this was pretty easy to follow and that it was entertaining.
*Even though it takes a bit of getting use to, I like the style the authors used to tell the story. It starts in the future, Dephon, who is fourteen, lives in a post apocalyptic Earth, now called Trepton, run by a dictatorship government. Dephon has been kept in the dark as far as his heritage and magical abilities go. Dephon and his father receive an unexpected visit from an old family friend. After that, things get weird. Dephon is given a book to read called the Exemeus. It is the story of his mother and how she met and fell in love with his father, developed her magical abilities and tried to save the world. From this point on, the story is told from two view points. You have Dephon in the current time, reading the book from his mother's point of view. I liked following Dephon as he read his mother's story.
*I enjoyed the romance between Hyalee and Singleton. It starts out as an attraction, and then it hits some difficulties as the two find out they cannot touch without fire erupting. It takes time and patience before things can fully develop and I liked that. The romance is built on a solid foundation of friendship and trust since it takes awhile before the couple can truly be together.
*I always enjoy a book that blends genres and this story is a mix of dystopian, fantasy, and paranormal. There is lots of magic and even new worlds to explore. This certainly is an imaginative and creative read. I especially enjoyed the magical rooster who is a bit of a prankster, and he even plays checkers and Scrabble. I also loved the magical, transforming bedroom. Who wouldn't want a room like that?
*I liked that this book has plenty of humor sprinkled in. I am always up for a laugh and the comedic snippets throughout are a nice reprieve.
And The Not So Much:
*I was a bit frustrated that the story skipped ahead, this happens when Dephon is pressed for time and he chooses to jump forward in the book. This didn't allow the coverage of some of the events that I thought were crucial to the story, such as the moment when the couple is betrayed and someone close to them is killed. This devastating death is brushed over and there isn't much to the how and why. I was also disappointed that the wedding and birth were skipped. I realize that not everything could be covered as it would make for a long book, but still, there were many things that I thought that were important that were skipped. Especially at the end, where there is a big revelation regarding Hyalee. She is supposedly dead at the beginning of the book, but it isn't even clear how she died or who betrayed her.
*I didn't understand the relationship Hyalee had with her mother and father. It was clear that her parents were moving constantly to keep her from Singleton, but the why is not explained. There is a moment when Jacqueline discusses it, but even she is uncertain. I never understood Singleton's mother's reaction to Hyalee when they first met, either. When Hyalee runs away to train with Jacqueline, there is practically nothing mentioned on the aftermath of her disappearance for her parents. Why? Did her parents suspect where she went? Were they not worried? I didn't understand this at all. There is a hint about her parents at the end of the book and I am hopeful that it will be addressed in the next book.
*The villain is underdeveloped. There is so little information on the how and why he acts the way he does. Was he jealous of his brother? Was he born with a duplicitous nature? What was the deal with his relationship with Bristol? Why was his mother so shocked by his friendship with Bristol? I felt like I didn't know the villain at all. I wanted for him to scare me and all that, and he, in fact, is pretty much out of the picture.
*The world building was a bit shaky. I didn't have a complete or clear picture as to what Earth was like after the hostile take over and how the Treptonian government functioned. More detail and explanation were needed.
* This book ends with a bunch of unanswered questions and a cliffhanger.

The Exemeus is an interesting and entertaining book for those who are in the mood to try something unique and out of the box. It has a creative and imaginative storyline, interesting world building and plenty of magic and paranormal. It is a blend of dystopian and fantasy. If you are looking for a book that is inexpensive and different, pick this one up while you can get it for $.99. I am glad I took the chance on this indie book.

Favorite Quotations:
"A wise person once told me, 'It is always better to die like a hero than live like a coward."
"You wouldn't happen to have come bearing any good news?" Jacqueline's skin glowed at almost full strength. "Yes. I just saved five hundred dollars on my car insurance."

I received a copy of this book for being part of the tour. I was not compensated for this review and all opinions are my own.
Posted@Rainy Day Ramblings.

[Kristin (Blood,Sweat and Books) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review:

“Life isn’t about how long you live it, but what you do with it. When you have lived for too long and experienced so much, the lines between right and wrong, good and bad, begin to blur. Immortality isn’t a goal, it’s a temptation–a punishment.”

I really was so surprised by this book. I'm not gonna lie, The Exemeus started off a bit lackluster for me and I nearly put it down because I wasn't feeling it. After reading some reviews which assured that it did in fact pick up The Exemeus turned out being an incredibly fulfilling and richly detailed read. I cannot stress enough how happy I am that I stuck with this book and continued on despite my initial misgivings.

While the story is really about the character Dephon I must say that I loved the character Hyalee more. I just didn't connect with Dephon as much as I did her. Maybe it had to do with his age ? If he had been 18 or 19 I think I might have been able to relate more but as it stands his thoughts tended to feel a bit immature to me. Especially compared to Hyalee or the character Singleton.

One thing that really pushed The Exemeus from just good to great is the Trepton society. I've read so many Dystopian books that after awhile they all sort of start blending into one another. However, this society felt new and fresh and kept me engrossed. It was special, unique to this story, this world. The authors really deserve credit for their amazing construction of this awful yet amazing place.


I'm going to nerd out a bit but I really felt that the way the plot played out felt like I was reading a story based in the world of Final Fantasy. I know it sounds silly but I kept picturing the scene from Final Fantasy X-2 where Yuna is singing and Lenne and her share this beautiful montage where the past and present come together. Yeah, yeah I realize most of you won't catch my reference but that song and scene fits this book so incredibly well!

Now as much as I really enjoyed this story it had a few small flaws that kept me from rating it a full-fledged 5 Stars. First off, I really believe this book could of been shorter. Not just 20 or 30 pages either. I honestly would of lopped off over 100. The book took way to long for me to get sucked in and as mentioned above nearly made me put it aside. Sure, the book was detailed but in order to get that detailing the pacing in the beginning of the book suffered greatly.

Secondly, The Exemeus was definitely what I would call a "Clean Read" this might please some readers but looking at the book from an adult perspective, I would of liked a bit more grittiness and darkness. My main issue with "clean reads" is I never find it believable when teens, especially those in a messed up Dystopian society don't cuss. That to me feels unbelievable. You don't need F*cks and Sh*ts on every page but every now and then I really feel the use of swear words is not just warranted but expected.

Issues aside, I really loved The Exemeus. The book was so unique and best of all filled with many new quotes to fill my favorites list. I will definitely be looking forward to the next book in this series and cannot recommend you pick this one up enough. If you're a fan of truly unique worlds with complex characters and a little bit of romance thrown in then The Exemeus is for you! Therefore, in the end I will be rating The Exemeus by Abeni & Folami Morris ★★★★.

[Zachary Flye · Rating 5 out of 5]

Real rating 4.5 stars

Check out my review site Zach's YA Reviews (zachsyareviews.com) for more YA Reviews.

Review:

Protagonists: This book tells two stories, the frame story of sorts since it's the least prevalent, is about a boy named Dephon who learns he comes from the two magical royal families and he needs to read his mother's Exemeus to learn how he can save the world. Hyalee Smith, Dephon's mother, takes center stage as the subject of The Exemeus and it's her journey of growing into her powers and falling in love with Dephon's father that he needs to read. Over the course of the book we see Hyalee grow not only into her powers but into her role as a very powerful protector of earth. We don't see much of Dephon's character development as we only see him every few chapters or so and then we go back into the world of the Exemeus quickly after.

Romance: The only romance that's in this book is the romance between Dephon's parents Hyalee and Singleton. I had thought I wouldn't be invested into the romance because we as reader's know how it ends, but I actually loved it way more than I had originally thought. Even though we know how it ends there is still a bit of drama and intriguing moments. There were moments from their life that Dephon does skip over that I would have liked to see if only to give a bit more background on his parents.

World-Building: In this story it begins as Earth has been called Trepton and all the cities Trepton followed by a corresponding roman numeral (eg. Trepton IV.) The world is ruled by the Demontros a man who has taken over the world and made the entire planet his own dictatorship. In this post-apocalyptic Earth school has been outlawed as well as gathering in groups with exceptions such as buying groceries. In this world there is also magic as well as wormholes to two other planets each with their own philosophies about life and war.

Predictability: The funny thing about this book is that a good ninety-nine percent of this book is very predictable, I figured out the Demontros as soon as he was mentioned and there weren't very many other twists that were revealed in this installment. However, there was one twist that completely shocked me and even though it probably shouldn't have, I had to reread the section where it was revealed a few times before it completely sunk it. I loved that they had that twist lined up to throw me completely off guard.

Ending: As I got closer and closer to the ending it became clearer that this wasn't going to be a stand alone book and is in fact the first in a series. The other thing I was hoping for was that this book would end with a great action sequence, which it sort of did. It was definitely satisfying, but I was hoping for a little more. The ending was where that crazy twist I mentioned above was finally revealed which made the ending all the better. In the very end there is a cliffhanger though it isn't all that torturous, which means it should hold until the next installment.

Rating:

This book is great but I felt like it could have been a bit better, and there were a few things that I felt it was missing to make it a five star home run. I would wholeheartedly suggest picking up this book from either Amazon or Barnes and Noble.

[Sadrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Check out my blog tour stop!

The Exemeus is a very lovely read. It's very descriptive, providing vivid pictures of what was happening in the book which made it even more enjoyable. Also, the settings were downright lovely; Oreland, that is. It's very different than what I have ever I came across of and everything was so beautifully enchanting ─ almost... magical. (See what I did there?) Although there were times when the names and places didn't make any sense to me, it's still bearable and possible to make rough guesses.

Fast-paced and told alternatively between the past and the present, The Exemeus is technically a combination of the stories of two people. In the past, we have our female protagonist Hyalee, a very lovely person who was also friendly and caring, with a good sense of humor. There were times when Hyalee almost give up on her fate and responsibilities, yet as she became more powerful, the instinct of being a leader kicked in and she utilized her authority over others to lead them towards their goal, making sure that her people were as safe as they could be in a war.

Then in the present, we have the male protagonist Dephon, who seemed like a cowardly, whiny boy at first, but in fact he was also a person who cares about others ─ even if a couple of them he didn't know and has never even met ─ and has the equally lovable sense of humor. Minus the weakly side of him that cannot even handle the school's football team, Dephon was actually pretty laid-back for someone with a huge burden on his shoulders. Both Hyalee and Dephon were both similar and different compared to each other, so it was quite a good idea to tell their stories alternatively.

I totally like every single powers mentioned in the book. While some were the typical magical moves, the others were also a bit unusual yet very cool. The Exemeus also has a sexy romance to add up to the white list, spicing up the atmosphere whenever things started to turn gloomy. The bits of plot twists throughout the book were very unexpected and managed to take me by surprise.

All in all a beautiful story, The Exemeus is what I think is a good combination of a unique dystopia, with a touch of magic sprinkled on top. What with the ending hinting on a lot of new possibilities, I'd love to get my hands on the second book as soon as I can. 5 stars!

[Michelle's Paranormal Vault of Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was pleasantly surprised with this book. I went in thinking a fantasy, and it was more a fantasy/dystopian mix, but almost had that time travel feel, but not. Let me explain. Dephon is a young boy (wish he was older, not ninth grader, hard to connect to him for me) who lives in a restrictive future with magic all around, sortof. Well, he gets ahold of the Exemus and it’s a magical book that has the history and thoughts of Haylee, now it gets interesting, as she has been dead for 13 years. So we are getting 2 stories in 1. As he reads her “thoughts” we are reading it from the first person Haylee’s point of view, which I will say I enjoyed a whole lot more than the young boys.

I really enjoyed the parts with Haylee and Singlton, I wanted more of them for sure. Haylee lives in a world more like what we are used to. Anyway, I wish when Dephon would not have skipped so much when reading of her life, but do understand why.

The plot itself moved fast, and it was filled with so many surprises I hadn’t seen coming that it kept me on the edge of my seat. The book is pretty long at 504 pages, and to me, think it may have been better to split it up some. But it was still a great read, I really enjoyed it.
I also love Mallea. She has such a great personality. I actually hope that she and Dephon end up together at some point. Think I liked her almost as much as Haylee.

I have to say this was not like any other dystopian book I have read before, and despite the fact that it was set up in a different society I would say that the main theme of this book was magic. I think most people who like either dystopian, or fantasy, will love this book, even if you’re not into dystopians, this is different than most, with the flopping back and forth from the past and future.

I never seen the name Dephon, and it bugs me that I have no clue how it would be said out loud, wish I could find that out, lol, I just improvised and thought it as “Devon” but spelled funny, lol.

I highly recommend this book. I give it 5 out of 5 stars

I received a copy of this book for my honest review.

[Kari · Rating 4 out of 5]

**4.5 Stars**
I received a copy of this book for an honest review as part of a blog tour.

MY OVERVIEW: I really enjoyed this book. There wasn’t too much that I found wrong with it. It was a little long however. I feel it should have transitioned over to the next book in the series about 100 pages before the end.

PROS: I love Hyalee! If the whole book could have been about her and Singleton, that would have been great. I also love Mallea. She has such a fantastic personality. I actually hope that she and Dephon end up together at some point.

CONS: Ok, ok. I know I said above that the book was a little too long… but I wish there was more from the Exemeus (Hyalee’s backstory). I felt that either Dephon skipped important parts and big gaps of time, or the Exemeus did. And it just didn’t flow right. I understand why some of it was skipped cause of the big twist at the end, but I would have at least like to have seen the engagement, wedding, and a little more of the pregnancy (and nope – not giving anything away).

MY FINAL THOUGHTS: A fun dystopian adventure that brings in the supernatural. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

[junia · Rating 4 out of 5]

So I read this because one of the authors was in my class… and I just picked it up because I like fantasy.

It was really good!

Off the top of my head:
+ banter
+ fully created world
+ great use of flashback
+ great characterization

Some parts, were admittedly a little slow, and I had a few preference issues (like, I don't like how inner strength/magic seemed to correlate with physical beauty; i don't like sappy story lines; Hyalee specifically said her name was Hi-a-lee and not Hay-lee, and she was called "Hyles" for a while and then at the end of the story, was called "Hayles.") .

BUT the story itself was really well put-together. The foreshadowing had great pay-offs and the new world made sense. I think lots of times when books introduce a fantasy world, sometimes it gets too fantastical and fake. But here, everything seamlessly connected.

Also, there are some shocking reveals that didn't come out of nowhere but were surprising nonetheless - it was really well-done.

I also liked how at the end of the book, I had to go back and reread the front to figure out parts.

There's enough mystery and intrigue to keep me fully onboard and looking forward to the next one.

I really enjoyed it, and I can't wait for the next one!!

[Elisabeth Wheatley · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s always a joy when a book you thought was going to be “alright” turns out to be “utterly, indescribably awesome.” I started this one, not really sure what to expect, but what I got was a suspenseful and original story of love, betrayal, magic, adventure, greed, and pretty pranks. This book expertly blends humor and tragedy and writing styles. The Exemeus was written by two sisters and I honestly couldn’t tell you where one stopped writing and another started. The story flows into a single, smooth voice and is definitely one of the better books I have encountered.

The plot:

This story is told from two perspectives. One is Dephon, the young mystic with unrealized powers living in a future dystopian society of oppression and chaos. The other is Hyalee, the modern teenager who discovers that she is descended of a magical ancient Egyptian line. This is two stories told at the same time as Dephon learns the story of who his mother was and what happened to her that resulted in the current state of the world. This was fast-paced, suspenseful, and I was hooked like a flipping trout until the very last word.

The characters:

Dephon is the first perspective we hear from. He is clueless as to who is or who is father is for that matter, but is gifted with a mysterious book by a mysterious woman out of which a mysterious girl with mysterious powers emerges. Dephon was a relatable, fun MC and I am very, very worried about him now. With the way the book ended, I have hope, but I’m still freaking out.

Hyalee’s story was a little spoiled because from the very beginning we know that she and Singleton are going to be able to touch—they had a child after all—and that Hyalee is going to be killed. Nonetheless, I enjoyed her story greatly. There were plenty of laugh lines mixed in with the serious undertones and I am hoping so badly that everything will turn out alright!

Singleton—poor Singleton! This is the first paragraph of the first chapter:

Dephon’s father had a power—a super power. Singleton Johnson had the amazing ability to blend seamlessly into the sofa.

He goes a little crazy with depression and despair after the death of Hyalee and the cruel betrayal of his twin brother, yet every so often we catch a glimpse of “the boy who had once loved so passionately.”

I adored Mallea! She was snarky, yet dedicated to duty and while I felt sorry for her, I also thought her bravery was admirable. She certainly knows how to extract humiliating revenge on a football team and how to get past military security (I also think Dephon likes her).

An awesome MG urban fantasy/dystopia/sci-fi and I am very, very excited for the next book! To Folami and Abeni Morris: Get that next book written already!

[Tanja (Tanychy) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review also posted at Ja čitam, a ti?

It's not a secret that I love fantasy, but another thing is that I like that old kind of fantasy. Where you have old books and good old mystery around. This book has all of that and what's even more interesting it's dystopia at the same time.

This book is divided into two stories basically and they're intertwined. We have a story about a young boy Dephon who lives in a future world. The world as we know it has been destroyed and now the Treptonian government runs what's left of it. Only he doesn't know that he has a power, a power he inherited from his mother and father, but father is ready to face the truth and help him. Until one day one person from the past shows up and gives him The Exemeus. His mother's Exemeus to help him figure things out and what's more important to meet her better as he never had a chance to. As soon as he opened the book he meets someone who is there to lead him through it and become a friend he never had. With a little time left he must learn all there is about his magic and the way to save the world.

While reading his mother's Exemeus we travel into the past and other world - Haylee's world. Where we get to know how did it started and what happened. I can say that Dephon was a sweet boy and was a good narrator, but Haylee was easier for me to connect with. It was easy to flow from one story to another and to connect the dots. While meeting Haylee and Singelton and their love story and then comparing that to the past in which Dephon lives you can see the changes that happened not only in the world but in people.

It's really hard to balance while writing this review. It is confusing when you start the book but the magic starts when you become able to connect the stories and to see the bigger picture, or better said the whole picture. All in all, I can say that I enjoyed in this story that has a wonderful magic in it, with coming of age and a bit of romance. With this I can't wait to see more and hopefully I'll get to see more of outside world (which is probably the only thing I missed here).

[Maghon Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Welcome to one of the coolest dystopian worlds made! What an interesting story this book has become. And yes I have seen the comparisons to Hunger Games but other than being in a dystopian setting I didn’t find that many similarities. Sure some, but not enough for me to automatically think HG. Anyways this was a wild ride for me.

First lets talk about how freaking awesome it is that the main character is a DUDE! I’m loving this! Don’t get me wrong, I love a good lady heroine but I’m a huge fan of well done male POVs as the main- ya know I seriously love Harry Dresden. And since Dephon is in a seriously tight spot he needs all the help he can get and it comes in the form of the awesome Haylee.

Haylee is something special! She’s got some serious kick-ass awesomeness going on! It’s a really special relationship happening here. The Trepton world created here is so real, which is quite depressing. It seems like any sliver of hope is dashed so fast you never even remember having it. Haylee and Dephon are on a mission to stay alive to accomplish this.

This is such a wonderful writing style and the amount of different elements added make it all the more special. You’ve got the fantasy element, it’s young adult though I think a whole lot of people will love it regardless of age, it got some humor, some mystery, some suspense, add a little horror because if I lived here I’d be horrified, and it’s filled with surprises in the plot twist, there’s is bound to be SOMETHING to keep you hooked like I was. Just grab it, get you a few hours, a comfortable spot, some snacks, and enter a world you can’t help but fall into and never want to come out! 5 APOCALYPTIC PAWS from me!

[Beth (YA Books Central) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was not sure what I was getting in to when I began reading this book. The synopsis seems to lean towards a more of a fantasy type novel and sometimes those can be hard to get into. Yet after the first two chapters I found myself digging into the story and wanting to read more!

The story begins with Dephon, a young boy who is living in a futuristc world and has yet to realize that he will be the person solely responsible for the future of the world. He begins his day like any normal teenager and by the end of the day he has discovered the mystical world that surrounds him and he is introduced to Jaqueline who gives him a book called The Exemeus that belonged to his mother and is supposed to lead him to his destiny.

You get just enough into Dephon's story to want to know more and then the book changes pace. The point-of-view changes to Hylaee, who is Dephon's mother. You then get to read into the past and discover what truly happened with his mother and what led up to making him so important.

I personally LOVED Hylaee's story. So many things are going on with her and I found myself unable to wait to see what happened next. She went thru so much in such a short amount of time.

I really dont want to go on much further because there are so many things happening that you need to read for yourself to experience it! I truly liked The Exemeus and found it extremely entertaining!! I recommend it to anyone who likes a good fantasy story as well as a good mystery!!

[Krystal Willingham · Rating 5 out of 5]

What to say about this book that hasn't already been said? How about, holy crap! Seriously, this was an awesome book that kept my attention and kept me turning the page long after I should have put the book down to actually try to get work done. I read this book in just a few days because of this. I was sucked in as soon as I finished the first paragraph.

Favorite character is definitely Hyalee. She isn't your normal one dimensional character and I loved that. She has depth and isn't your typical girl you have in many of the other novels around. Love her so much! I also loved how her and Singleton's relationship developed and bloomed just as Hyalee did. It was one of those books where I picked it up thinking how in the world was I going to get through it because it is pretty long but ended up loving every single word of the book.

The plot of the book moves fast so that makes up for the length of the book because you get into the book and forget how long it is. That to me is the sign of an awesome book. I am totally excited for the second book. Will be recommending this book to everyone!

*Disclosure Notice*
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my personal and honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for this review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

[Bailee · Rating 4 out of 5]

The whole idea of this novel is extremely interesting to me. It's a very complex sort of setup with the tyrannical government, the horrific high school kids, and the magical powers that are bound to show up. Typically, I get to handle at least one of those problems at a time when tackling a novel for a review. So, of course the whole premise of the story caught me by surprise. I honestly couldn't wait to read it.

The Exemeus by Folami and Abeni Morris is the tale of two different people bound by the same fate. Thirteen years (and death) separate these characters and yet somewhere along the lines, the gap is bridged by a single document, the Exemeus. Hyalee Smith has been dead for a long time, leaving many to mourn the destruction and loss that she left behind. Dephon is just trying to survive through high school as people bully him constantly and his father does nothing more than sit in front of the television. It's hard to imagine those two ever having their fates entwined, right? He's a nobody and when Hyalee was alive, she most certainly was a somebody. But as the date of the appearance of his powers draws near, he must look into the past through Hyalee's eyes and understand what happened so many years before. Throughout this process, he learns more about not only himself but his parents as well -- the mother he never knew and the father who never left the couch. His only hope for a future is in the past.

I've already talked about the whole idea of the story previously so I think I'll talk about the way the story flowed together. It seems hard to have two separate stories going on at once in a story. Two separate and completely different characters to create and deal with while working out how the story should be in the end. Yeah, that just sounds like a whole lot of work. That is what is great about this story. The two separate, albeit entwined, stories seem to flow together seamlessly and the authors managed to make it appear easier than it probably was.

Dephon, who I am going to claim as the main character for the simple fact that he is the living one out of the two, comes off as weak and perhaps a little on the uncool side in the very beginning. He is used to having the jocks torment him for no reason or people just outright ignoring him. It seems like he is always late. He just can never catch a break. Struggling to keep his head above water as he suffers through high school, he can't even find solace in his own home because he performs the role of caregiver. I feel bad saying this but doesn't his life sound pitiful? The greatest quality I think he has during the beginning is the fact that he doesn't outright complain. He acts as though he is okay with being the punch line of every one of the jock's jokes and that he doesn't have any friends. Everything changes for him in a split second when he finds himself in possession of his mother's Exemeus. For all of his issues, you would think that there was nothing special about him but the truth is that he is very special indeed. I find myself liking the fact that he doesn't think that he is some great and powerful guy but somewhere underneath it all he knows he is different.

Hyalee survives in this story through The Exemeus, her every thought and word pressed into the pages of this book that fell in Dephon's hands. She was always moving it seemed like and she never stood out in any of the new places she went. Of course, it's hard to stand out when you only live in one place for a short amount of time but finally she makes a friend at her new high school. Then a new guy shows up, who seems to like her, and the air around seems to grow hotter when they are together. After several failed attempts to walk and drive her home one night after detention, she finds out just how different they really are. I loved her personality, it was very relatable and endearing. Some of her antics were funny and some of them were heartbreaking. She was a well developed character, who showed a great deal of strength in all the areas that it counts.

I think I kind of feel bad for his father once everything goes down and you learn more about his story. He's a headstrong type of guy who refuses to change his mind no matter what. Even when he knows that it might be dangerous. His character grew on me once the story really got going and I understood why he is the way he is. He once was a happy, go-lucky type of guy but there are moments in his life that drastically changed him and not for the better sadly. Jacqueline is the voice of reason during the story, she seems to have it all figured out and shares her little nuggets of wisdom with those she thinks need it most. You know what I mean. Anyway, I actually really liked her character from the moment she was introduced.

WELL! That's all folks. Go check it out and see whether this book is for you!

[Cyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

GENRE: YA Fantasy
THEME: Dystopian, Magic, Dual Worlds
RECEIVED: Blog Tour
BLOG: http://seeingnight.blogspot.com/

REVIEW:
It seems that a boy as the lead character is starting to bloom in the Young Adult genre. The Exemeus is a complex storyline that has twist in a wonderfully thought out plot of betrayal, family, love, secrets and lots of magic.

The Exemeus follows Dephon who discovers he’s meant for much more than just being a normal teenage boy. He is given a book (called Exemeus) that belonged to his mother and finds out the importance of his family and the destiny he is meant for. The government is a major threat to him and the only person that can help him is someone who died many years ago. Dephon must learn from this person to be able to survive what’s coming.

Dephon is a young character who has a lot to learn and may seem like a weak little kid who just wants to get through high school. I loved watching his character grow, after being given his mothers book after overhearing a conversation between his father and a mysterious woman, he starts to put the pieces together of what his father is keeping from him. He learns about Haylee through his mother’s book and discovers through her story more about himself. I didn’t connect to him as much as I did Haylee, mostly because he was such a young protagonist, and the beginning took a bit to hook me into the story. I’m curious as to what he will do next after the ending shocked me beyond belief; his character has many more challenges ahead that’s for sure.

Haylee I felt was the voice and strength of this story. The readers see Haylee through Dephon reading about her and what ultimately become of her. I loved connecting bits and pieces with Haylee’s life 13 years in the past to Dephons world and how changed because of what happened to her. There is some romance in this story; I loved watching the romance grow between Haylee and Singelton and how their relationship is connected to Dephon. My favorite scenes were whenever these two were together; they have a lot of challenges ahead, as well as heartache and betrayal.

Dephon’s father is a highly important character, which the reader will discover the twist of this of course once they read it. I felt his change from reading about his past to how he is now was sad to see such a difference and how it could be the same man. I felt bad for him after learning the heartache that happens to his family that greatly impacts the plot twist. He was so lively and happy before and it made me wants him to find some sort of happiness and just be there for his son instead of watching television all the time.

Overall there is just so much that happens throughout this story that even the slightest mention of things could give away too much. I loved the world development and how the past of one character leads to the world that the other character now lives in. I thought going back and forth to each character and their storyline would confuse me, but I was able to keep up and understand the reasoning and how everything made sense in the end.
My only issue was just how long this book was and how much the reader has to take in, which could get overwhelming for some. The character development was amazing and I can’t wait to see where the authors will take Dephon’s character. In the end even though I caught on to a lot of connections before they were revealed the ending was perfect, it shocked me and still has me reeling with questions.

RECOMMENDATION:
This is a Young Adult novel with that has a wonderfully crafted world of magic and mystery. Fans of Partials by Dan Wells and Divergent by Veronica Roth will enjoy this fantasy dystopian world in The Exemeus by Folami Morris and Abeni Morris.

[Reeka (BoundbyWords) · Rating 3 out of 5]

What an interestingly paranormal twist on a dystopian. Yeah, that was a mouthful, but this book definitely warrants it. With the only downfall being it's lack of a solid back story, The Exemeus was a thrill ride, and an enjoyable, quick-paced read for those who enjoy all genres of YA.

A little known fact about me: I love magic in ALL of it's forms. But actual magic gets me every time. This book had magic, and then some, in varying and wonderful degrees. The Exemeus revolves around Dephon, and the small problem of his government wanting him dead, due to the fact that he harnesses more power than he can possibly imagine. Born from two magically inclined parents, Dephon is set on a journey to discover the truth about his parents in all too "hands-on" way. With the help of an leather bound text book, and a wittingly pleasant aid by the name of Mallea (love that name!), Dephon comes to the realization that he's not the average, nerdy, teenage boy he thought he was.

The premise for this book is amazing, though the execution suffered just a little. As mentioned before, the back story for Trepton, formally Earth, was scarce, and left a lot to be imagined. I would have liked to have a more solid foundation to base my visions of the story line on as I was reading. Despite that qualm, however, the book played out in a pace that was easy to fall in step with. I loved that the content altered between Dephon's present time, and time of his mother's early years, as he reads from the text about how she came into her powers. I couldn't WAIT until he picked up the book and started reading again. The magic was palpable, and I hung off of every new discovery that Hyalee (Dephon's mother), made that brought her closer to who she would eventually be. I also think I developed an unhealthy obsession with Jacqueline's house-I won't say anymore, you guys MUST read this magic.

The action in this book was well-placed, and not all-consuming like other paranormal action scenes tend to be. I sometimes find it hard to follow along when magic is shooting out from every possible angle. But The Exemeu s moved along well, and I found it easily engaging. The character dialogue was also a plus, and I absolutely loved the relationship between Hyalee and Singleton, especially in the early years. As another reviewer mentioned, I wish  more was revealed about their later years, but I suspect that will come in the next books *fingers crossed*.

Overall, this book was right up my alley, and I found myself thinking about the possibilities of a reality like the one described for a while after reading. 

Recommended for: readers fantasy, paranormal, action and a romance aspect.

[Kayla Beck Kalnasy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review originally posted on Bibliophilia, Please.

I've been burned a lot lately with the indie books that I have agreed to review, so The Exemeus was a pleasant surprise. The story was way different than what I've come to expect from "fantasy" or "dystopia" tags. The characters were also odd, but easy to relate to. The humor that permeated the novel was fantastic, and the story itself reminded me a tiny bit of The Neverending Story .

The prologue of the novel confused me a little. I thought that The Exemeus would be a fantasy novel similar to Daughter of Smoke and Bone (okay, maybe it was the blue hair), but almost immediately in chapter one we meet Dephon, a high schooler who is terrorized by the football team and failing math. The way that The Exemeus was able to stand apart - nay, outside - of the typical YA genre made the story something unexpected and fresh. Yes, there was dystopia, but high school was still high school, and it sucked.

What reminded me of The Neverending Story in The Exemeus is that when Dephon began reading The Exemeus (the book that the story takes its name from), he could see past events as he read them. (There was also an annoying female associated with the book, but that's about the extent of Mallea's resemblance to the Childlike Empress.) He was able to see his mother's own awkward high school moment when she woke up a beautiful Asian one morning after going to bed a dirty blonde. (No, she wasn't literally dirty! It was her hair color! *sigh* Nevermind.) I would have been hard-pressed to take it in stride like she did. Of course, there was a lot more too The Exemeus than that, but I snickered at it. A lot.

The one problem that I did have with The Exemeus is that it was so long. Don't get me wrong, I love a huge book as much as the next person, but I think this one would have been better served to have some of the content shaved or split into another volume. The names also killed me on the inside, just a little bit. I try not to complain about it too much, but some of the names in fantasy kill me. Let's take Hyalee for instance - my brain wanted to read it as Haylee, and then it would go crazy because it's spelled wrong! *flails* And the twins, Singleton and Dupleton... *stares* Really? Yes, I know I'm being nitpicky, but it took away from my enjoyment of the book.

So weird names and it being über-long aside, I think The Exemeus was a great read. If you're looking for something unlike most of the options being offered in the book world, I suggest you pick this one up!

To satisfy FTC guidelines, I am disclosing that I received a copy of the novel from the publisher or author through CBB Book Promotions in exchange for an unbiased review. It has in no way affected the outcome. All expressed opinions are awesome, honest, and courtesy of me.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just have to say it: Wow! What a fabulous story. I will admit that when I began I wasn’t that drawn in. I was expecting more of a story in line with the synopsis above and I wasn’t getting it. I think this synopsis would be better suited to the overall series and not just this book.

The protagonist, Dephon is a bit of a geek, no friends, gets picked on by all the school bullies. His world is bleak and ominous. It reminded me of Orwell’s 1984 in some ways. Dephon’s father spends his days staring at the TV and his mother died when he was young. And then one day when Dephon comes home his father is speaking to a woman and Dephon overhears a conversation that involves him. His birthday is approaching and everything will change.

His father doesn’t want to listen to this woman and she leaves. The next day at school Dephon discovers a massive book in his locker. This book is the life story of his mother (only volume 3 but enough to give him information) and he’s ordered to read it, all of it, before his birthday arrives in ten days. As Dephon dives into his mother’s life we are transported along into a world that was much like ours with the exception that there is magic and portals to alternate planets. Hyalee, Dephon’s mother and the focus of the book is a special person. She is the one who should have been able to stop the rising tide of evil. But she is ultimately betrayed and the world slides into chaos and totalitarian rule.

I really enjoyed how the novel bounced back and forth between Dephon reading pieces of the story and hearing about Hyalee’s teen years as she gains her powers and learns to harness them vs Dephon going about his regular life, acting just like a typical teenage boy, fighting with his father, hiding the fact he has this book. He is told to read the entire book but instead he skims and flips forward pages. Ultimately this results in disaster as he is not fully prepared when his birthday arrives.

The world Dephon lives in is wonderfully created. I loved how the magical elements all wove in to this relatively ordinary world. The story moves briskly and builds up in tension. I had to keep reading. And when I reached the end I actually yelled out “NO!” because it ends on a cliffhanger. I wanted more. I needed more.

In case you couldn’t tell, I really enjoyed this book. The writing style isn’t overly sophisticated so I’d place it in a YA category, perhaps upper mid-grade. There are some romantic elements but no explicit scenes. The adventure and the challenge of winning against the antagonist is what propels this story along.

I will definitely be picking up the second book in this series, whenever it comes out.

4.5 out of 5

I was provided a copy of this novel for an honest review

[Carrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

I got to read this book as part of the blog tour for an honest review. (See below for all the other lovely stops.)

When I first picked up this book, I wasn't sure what to think. There is a lot to take in. Our story follows Dephon as he finds out just who he is and more about this heroic task others expect from him. Along the way he is given a book, a book that will change everything. In it is the story of Hyalee and her struggle and ultimate failure with her heroic task that leads to the world as Dephon knows it today.

Overall, I really liked this story. There is a lot to learn about their abilities and the worlds around them, I felt like a student right along with them. The world, both pre and post-takeover, was presented in such a fascinating way. Dystopians seem to be something of a rage at the moment, but I think this book did a lot to try and separate itself from the dystopian mold. You get the post world and then you get to see how it became that world, which I thought was very interesting. I also liked the characters. Hyalee and Singleton were such fascinating characters that I loved getting to know them and watch them grow. Dephon was interesting, but his potential was left untapped. Mainly, I think because of how the story is presented. We have to know her story to know his. I expect him to play a much bigger role in the next book.

The story itself was interesting. It's sort of a two in one deal. You get Dephon who then reads about Hyalee. The reader watches things unfold to Hyalee and can see how the events in her life are connected to the world he lives in and Dephon himself. I think they way the two lives were connected together was nicely done. Little things here and there connect the two lives and very different worlds they live in. These connections strengthen the stories and tie them nicely together. In short, a lifetime of causes and effects. Learning things about Dephon's world really make you want to uncover the mystery of how they occurred during Hyalee's story.

As a whole, I liked the book. But I do have to say that I think it started off slow. I did not have any sort of instant connection with Dephon, and it really wasn't until I started to get to know Mallea and then Hyalee that I really started to get into the story. The slow start and lack of connection to Dephon, are the only reasons I could not rate this book higher. Once things started happening to Hyalee, the story sucked me in. Somewhere towards the end, I realized I had forged a connection to Dephon. Looking back, I cannot pin point that moment where I started to like his character, but I am curious about how he grows and develops in the next book.

[Candace · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Exemeus is a rather difficult book to review. It's very, very different and I know it won't be a book for everyone. It's hard to say who will enjoy it, but I know I did!

When I first started reading I initially felt like it had a Harry Potter feel to it, like a futuristic science fiction HP. But my opinions about that changed as I kept reading. I think the strange things that occur in the book, like the girl that protects The Exemeus book and lives inside it who pops out and helps Delphon. And the strange magical things these people could do just gave me that HP feel. But as I continued to read it mixed in other things and one of those was Dr. Seuss. Yep, this book had a portion that felt very Dr. Seuss. I'll tell you now, that SOUNDS ridiculous, doesn't it? I promise you, it's not. Yes, it's just plain silly, but it goes with the whole theme of this book. There's lots of life or death and all that junk but yet it has lots of stuff that is silly and it all works really, REALLY well.

This story is about Dephon but the book that Dephon is reading to help him in his future is his dead mothers past. Her experiences about coming into her powers, learning about them, meeting Dephon's father and falling in love, and saving the world. Okay, TRYING to save the world cause it's clear that she did NOT manage to save the world and the world Dephon lives in is a MESS. It's ruled by an evil ruler and people can't even walk the streets. Anyway, when Dephon reads, he also sees (remember futuristic and with magic) so when he reads it kind of switches over to his mothers story and she's narrating in first person. I would say the majority of this book is actually his mothers story because we need to know all this stuff about how and why our world became the way it did.

You need to remember when you're reading this book not to take things too seriously, not to have this picture in your head of a dystopian like we are use to reading because this is definitely nothing like the average dystopian book. This is a fantasy with alien planets, with evil rulers, with magic, with crazy Dr. Seuss worlds (that's really just one small portion but I think it was my favorite part of the book, I loved it!) and with characters that you will totally fall for.

I know this isn't a book everyone will love, but I really encourage you to check out the sample on amazon and see if it might be your thing because I really found myself loving the story and having a lot of fun reading it.

This book is pretty appropriate for middle grade AND young adult readers.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly going into this novel, I was expecting a middle grade book. Not so, this is definitely a Young Adult Fantasy complete with a romance (clean) and a dystopian/apocalyptic world though we don't see a lot of that. There are several worlds we see and it's interesting how the authors chose to narrate the novel.

I'll start with Dephon Johnson. He's a bit of a weakling. He's not exactly a "nerd" in that he's not especially smart. He likes to read, but that doesn't really make him a nerd. He's definitely the victim of the football team, their favorite target in fact. It's painful just reading about what they do to him and even more painful to watch him just take it. But Dephon finds out he is not meant to be a helpless weakling for long. He is tasked to read a book in nine days, a huge book, by a woman with supernatural powers that his dad seems to hate. He finds them arguing and some kind of earthquake shakes the sewers that the people of Earth now live in.
That is one part of the narration, Dephon in his present day reading the book and talking to an amazing girl who lives inside the book.

While he reads the book, he gets a 3D version of the past. His parents' past starting from the day his mother meets his father. The projection makes it feel like he's really there and he sees things as they happened, even his parents stealing the book he is now reading from another planet. This is the other type of narration. It isn't even flashback, because it isn't the actual characters going back in their memories. The book is projecting their lives, it has recorded their lives. It works really well with this type of book.

There is so much fantasy to understand that having a little bit in the past and a little in Dephon's world is easier to make sense of it. The two come together in one big clash towards the end of the book and you have some hope for the future of planet Earth. It really sucks the way it is in Dephon's time.

I won't even get started into the worlds but I would definitely call them very imaginative. Some of the missions I wish had gone into greater depth, but most I was glad they glossed over the technical stuff. There is a lot of romance, but very clean, and the romance strengthens the powers of the characters. It's a lot to take in and a lot to keep up with but so creative. I had such a great time reading it, I can't wait for the next novel due out early next year!!

I received a copy of this novel for a blog tour. The opinions expressed are my own and were not influenced in any way.

[~Tina~ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This book turned out to be a pretty decent story. I didn't really know what to expect going in, only that the blurb sounded like something I'd enjoy. The Exemeus is a story within a story. It's about a couple named Hyalee and Singleton and their magical fated journey. It's about a raging and magical war where good was destroyed and evil was made to fester. But, it's also about a boy named Dephon Johnson who never really fit in at school but takes comfort in losing himself in his history books where the past of ancient wars, vast cities and old traditions was the way it use to be, compared to the dark, black, and empty waste Trepton IV is now. But soon, Dephon will come to realize how valuable and inspired his life really is and that the past that had once consumed his dreams is actually apart of his destiny. But he must learn all there is to learn about what really happened thirteen years ago if he's to fight back against a government that wants to eliminate him.

This book has just about everything I like in my escape. Magic and madness, suspense and mystery, betrayal, love and an ultimate hope. Folami Morris spins a fascinating and entertaining concept. Her writing is skilled, steady and wildly imaginative. The world-building is unique and creative and I found myself easily and instantly lost within this universe. It was a tad long, but I was so caught up with Hyalee's story that I couldn't bring myself to care.

I really enjoyed all these characters, Dephon, Hyalee, Singleton and Mallea. They each have a key play in this book, like pieces to a missing puzzle. They are all freshly developed and guides the readers effortlessly throughout this adventure. As much as I loved learning about Hyalee and Singletons past and how Dephon is connect to it, I'm actually quite curious how Dephon's story will play out from here.
Bottom line, Exemeus is fit for fans who want to experience an extraordinary dystopian magical adventure with inspiring characters, solid writing and an enriched world. I'm looking forward to seeing what happens next.

This review and more can be seen at WinterHaven Books;

[Mlpmom (Book Reviewer) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm going to admit something, I wasn't too sure about this before I started it. As most of you know, I seem to have a love hate relationship with most fantasy novels. I have no idea why. Maybe my expectations are too high or maybe I just have a hard time believing the unbelievable, either way, there you have it, I am drawn to fantasy but very seldom really get in to it and enjoy it.

So it is understandable that I went into this with trepidation, very low expectations and maybe even with a not so great attitude. So you can imagine my surprise when I was immediately thrown into the story and my attention was grabbed from the very first chapter.

I truly had so much fun reading this. I wasn't too sure I was going to love Dephon's voice but by the time I got past the first couple of chapters, I realized that I really did enjoy him in all his awkwardness. And most importantly, I loved watching him as he learned about his parents and especially about Hyalee.

The similarities between the two (Hyalee and Dephon) was uncanny and I loved that instant connection that they seemed to have as Dephon unfolded his mother's story. And lets talk about that for a moment, really the telling of her story was brilliantly done. It reminded me a lot of The Never Ending Story as we were thrown into her story with the simple act of the opening of a large ancient book.

Mallea was such a great secondary character with all her feisty-ness, I couldn't help but love her as she helped Dephon through his journey in the story. And can I talk about Kayin? I know it is crazy but I loved him and all his roostery antics. They added a lightness to the story that put a fun twist to it that I really enjoyed.

In fact I really enjoyed all the characters in this story, from the good to the bad. My only real complaint is that I never felt like I got a real good picture of what Earth (now Trepton) was like after the battle 13 years later. Was magic known across the world? Why was it so repressed and the inhabitants so fearful to even walk the streets? But, I can only imagine that that, along with a lot of other things revealed at the end, will be discussed in more length in the next installment and I plan on reading it and finding out more. I really enjoyed this, way more than I thought I would and truly think that this would appeal to anyone, fantasy lover or not.

[Alison (Ali's Books) Flores · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Exemeus takes you on an exciting trip through a post-apocalyptic time where magic is not only real, but plays a major role in the world.

Dephon’s an amazing kid!! How he keeps his attitude as positive as he does, is beyond me!! He goes to school all day to be bullied relentlessly, only to come home and be completely ignored by his near comatose father, who just stares at the TV. This is his life, but in one day, that all changes. Dephon learns his father isn’t the boring man he thought he was. Plus, this amazing magical woman he’s been dreaming of turns out to be his mother.

Dephon learns that not only did his parents have magical powers, but he’s about to receive some of his own, and he’s going to be expected to save the world with them. First, he must read his mother’s Exemeus. The Exemeus is an incredibly thick book, and he has very little time to read it in its entirety. It’s imperative that he accomplishes this task.

When the story starts out, it can be a little confusing. You are being introduced to a whole new world, where so much has changed. It’s not long, though, before you find yourself immensed in this world and on a roller coaster ride of emotions. There were scenes that literally had me laughing out loud, and I’m not talking about one small chuckle. Then I’d find myself swooning right along with Hyalee, Dephon’s mother. Other times I was completely filled with tension and apprehensive about what was to come. The book keeps you on your toes and guessing about what’s to come. It is by no means your typical predictable story.

Once or twice I found myself questioning the actions of a couple characters, but this wasn’t a repetitive thing throughout the story. There were also a couple times I didn’t understand what was being said, but other than that I couldn’t find any flaws with the book. It grabs you and keeps you intrigued. The plot was great and unique. I give it a solid 4 stars!! I must warn you here…it ends with a cliffhanger. I seriously hope we’re not left waiting long on the sequel!!!
*I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.*

[Roxanne Crouse · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Exemeus by Folami Morris and Abeni Morris is a middle-grade fantasy about Hyalee Smith and Dephon Johnson, two people living in different times who must come together somehow and help each other save the world from the Treptonian government, an evil force controlling earth.

The Exemeus is a fun, fast-paced, fantasy adventure young readers under the age of fourteen will enjoy. It has magic and other very interesting alien worlds and many explorations. The writing is well done for the younger age group. Older readers, sixteen and up, may not enjoy this book as much due to its overly whimsical nature at times, but they may still want to give it a look.

Parents won’t need to be concerned about the book’s contents. It is very innocent in nature with no cussing, drugs or alcohol use, or sexual themes.

The first book sets up the world the reader will be experiencing and the two main characters’ plight. It has an ending but not a traditional climax and resolution so you will need to read on in the series to reach a finale.

Older readers may have a harder time suspending belief in this book, which is why I recommend it for younger readers. Scenes such as when Hyalee’s boyfriend takes her home the first time and finds he can’t go the whole way to her home because he is blocked by an invisible force. The two characters’ reactions to this are so nonchalant as if it happens every day may bother some older readers. The scenes with Hyalee and the ghost person are taken so casually by Hyalee, too, not a realistic reaction. Younger readers won’t care or notice, older readers will.

Near the end of this first book, things start to skip around skipping events I think most readers would have enjoyed reading about such as the marriage and the couple finding out they are pregnant. Perhaps there is a reason for these skips that come up in the next book.

The Exemeus is an excellent read for tweens and younger readers. If you enjoy dystopian fantasy with magic and other worlds to explore than try it.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Opening up The Exemeus was quite the experience. From page one, this story takes off at a manic pace. There is so much to absorb, so much to catch up on, that it all but left me breathless. This isn't like anything else that I've read lately, so it swept me up and made me want to figure things out. I'm just giving you a warning that this book doesn't stop to wait for you. It moves, and it moves quick.

The story follows Dephon as he slowly discovers who he is, and what he is meant to to do. As the heir to the one power that can save his society, Dephon is wanted man. We watch as his story ties up into Hyalee's over the course of the book, showing that these two are inexorably linked. The narration comes from both characters, but not quite the way you'd think. Dephon is our narrator, and he reads about Hyalee through a journal that is passed down to him. It's a very interesting perspective and done quite well. This story is all about cause and effect. If you change something, does it change the future?

In terms of plot, this book is fairly solid. There is a lot to learn about the people in Dephon's world and about the powers that they possess. The biggest problem comes in that you don't start to learn the majority of it until well into the book. I was fairly confused for a good five chapters or so. The saving grace was that I really liked Dephon, and I was willing to follow him wherever things might take him. He's brave, kind, and everything that a hero should be. While I never really felt he quite hit his full potential, I know there are more books coming around the corner.

Overall, I ended up enjoying this story. The Exemeus is a book that utilizes the "slow burn". You'll be scrambling to catch up but, once things start happening, the story sucks you in. Dephon and Hyalee's stories are intriguing. Especially in the way they link to one another. If you're looking for a different kind of read, and are willing to step outside the box, give this one a a shot.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most of the book is told from the perspective of Haylee and her life on Earth while Dephon is just reading about her. The Exemeus
Isn’t a bad book, but it is a bit on the mediocre/ mainstream side. The romance in the book has been done before. With the insta-love and everything that goes on with the couple, it gets very annoying. But I still liked the book with the many different types of magic, worlds, and love. The Exemeus is a (mostly) fun read that many people will enjoy.

It’s blindfully obvious that Haylee and singleton are in love. Many books have this type of insta-love that also shows the couple facing many obstacles. What makes me dislike the romance is that they feel the need to touch each other every second of every day. There is a line between affctionate couples and tooaffectionate couples. Not only this, but some of the characters are boring and dull. I especially didn’t like reading about Dephon and his sad, whimpy ways.

Usually, when I read a book, that’s in third person, it takes me a while to feel connected with the book and enjoy the writing. This isn’t the case with The Exemeus in fact, the writing makes it more enjoyable and tolerable of the romance. I love the idea of having two stories fit into one book almost perfectly. It also better that Dephon and Haylee have a connection to each other. The ending is a surprise! I was not expecting what happens because when you think its predictable, it takes a sharp turn and you are left in the dark. I was only expecting about a quarter of what happens.

Jacqueline is an awesome character. She is so laid back and all hakuna-matata-like about everything. I love her and her blue tipped hair! This book isn’t perfect but the action and adventures Haylee faces is worth the read. I recommend this to anyone who loves stories with different perspectives, magical beings, and a world full of destruction where the only hope for peace is far too young to understand.

[Nica · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading a lot of dystopian novels, I asked myself, “Is dystopian the next cliché?” Some authors have the talent to write good ones, while others need a lot of improvement first. I am glad that with this book, I never felt reading an experiment novel. The flow of the story is natural and though it didn’t give much of a rise in my emotional scale, I can say that the book accomplished more than what I initially expected.

The book is filled with lots of magic and adventures and I was easily carried away. It is refreshing to read a YA, and a dystopian one, with a male main character. I mean, most YA novels feature a heroine and it is nice to have a male counterpart for a change. The male teenager perspective was captured correctly (as far as I can guess since I belong to the other gender) and it was entertaining to read the main character’s journey filled with courage, wit, and a huge dose of humor.

The story moves in a fast pace, which I am very grateful for. Actually, this novel is quite long (almost 500 pages) and at first I was afraid that I won’t be able to finish it on time for my review. Thankfully, there were only a few dull moments so I was not tempted of not finishing the book. There were a lot of surprises and twists in the story which I unfortunately did not guess correctly. I commend the author for that. I hate to read an uber-predictable story that I would grow frustrated and say, “I could even write better than this!”

Overall, the novel is okay though I think the author can add more foundation story about Hyalee, the main character’s mother.
Furthermore, I suggest of having a cleaner transition between the reality (the now) and the history (book story) because I found reading one after the other confusing. Now, will I recommend this? Definitely. For those who love YA and dystopian books, this one is for you.

Rating: 4/5

*I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.

[Jennifer Ricketts (Donnie Darko Girl) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book for an honest review for my stop on the blog tour at my blog Donnie Darko Girl.

With the overarching theme of good vs. evil, The Exemeus takes a dash of Harry Potter, adds it to a dystopian setting like that of The Hunger Games, and what you get is a fresh twist on both the fantasy and dystopian genres. To say that Dephon's existence is a harsh one would be an understatement. From the way he describes his life, it sounds as though his dad is providing just the basics and isn't an emotional support Dephon can count on. Dephon's mother died a long time ago, and he doesn't have friends, either. All he really can afford to focus on is surviving school and retreating to his room to read all evening. It would be a very lonely existence if you ask me.

With all of the above in mind, I immediately cared about Dephon and just when I thought I wouldn't like his father for the entire book, Dephon discovers how his parents met and what circumstances led up to cause his father's current behavior. The puzzle pieces begin to fall into place, and I started to understand why his father chose to live the way he had been living, even though I disagreed with it completely. Then you really get into the meat of the story at this point.

The only problem I encountered while reading this book was sometimes I slipped from Dephon's narrative into Hyalee's narrative without realizing the change in character voice right away. They were a bit too similar for male and female characters respectively. Other than this, I loved every thrilling moment. You're taken on a wild ride where anything can happen, and I love books like this that take chances.

If you're a fan of fantasy, dystopian, young adult, and romance, this is a gem of a book you'll devour in one sitting like I did!