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Linked #2
Unravel
Untold dangers await telepathic twins in this sequel to the futuristic, romantic thriller classic sci-fi, space-travel adventure.
After Elissa and Lin exposed the government's secret experiments in Linked, their home planet Sekoia is thrown into chaos. Determined to do their part to help the planet they've hurt, they return to Sekoia only to discover that things are far worse that they imagined. Resources are suddenly scarce, people are scared, and there's a rising current of anger against the Spares.
When Lissa and Lin find themselves among another group of Spares and twins, they feel like they've found their kindred spirits at last. But a threat none of them could have expected is lying in wait for Sekoia's Spares.
After Elissa and Lin exposed the government's secret experiments in Linked, their home planet Sekoia is thrown into chaos. Determined to do their part to help the planet they've hurt, they return to Sekoia only to discover that things are far worse that they imagined. Resources are suddenly scarce, people are scared, and there's a rising current of anger against the Spares.
When Lissa and Lin find themselves among another group of Spares and twins, they feel like they've found their kindred spirits at last. But a threat none of them could have expected is lying in wait for Sekoia's Spares.
480 pages, Hardcover
First published June 30, 2014
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December 12, 2017
Review to come!
April 24, 2022
Rating: 4.4 stars
August 16, 2014
My Rating: 2 Stars
"She didn't want to sit at the table, but nor could she face getting herself anything to eat just yet. She went to the nearest drink machine and dialed herself some hot chocolate."
Where to begin. Most books I always finish, whether it's horrific or amazing, but UNRAVEL was just…irritating! I got to page 183 and I was STILL bored out of my mind. I liked LINKED a lot, it was fast paced, interesting, and had a decent plot, but I would have liked this concept much better if it was just one book. I was excited to read UNRAVEL, with it's pretty cover and interesting summary, but I'm unimpressed.
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So once the truth got out about the Spares; twins that are experimented in torturous labratories and used as a power source for space equipment (lost yet?) Lissa and her Spare Lin, decide to head back to their home planet, Seokia, and help with the disasterous aftermath of a society gone wrong. Brace yourself to read chapter upon chapter of our characters stuck in a rebel base where they sit around and talk, survive the same predictable flyer attacks, and drink hot chocolate. (Seriously, why is there so much hot chocolate in these books?)
And that was how far I got before I just had to tuck this book back into it's shelf. First off, the characters.I didn't get Lissa. She treats her twin like she's not even a human being, (even though Lissa constatly argues with people that Lin is in fact one) and is so mean. Why won't she cut her sister some slack? I know if mine survived unspeakable torture, I wouldn't be shunning her and giving her The Silent Treatment.
And the romance between Lissa and Cadan. By the end of book one, I was starting to think that Lissa and Cadan actually had some chemistry, but now…yeah, no. They constantly argue, and it feels like their realationship is so…forced. Not to mention the fact that the base is constantly in peril, and the whole time Lisssa is panicking that Cadan's parents don't approve of him dating her.
So that's all I really have to say about that. LINKED is a satisfiying book, but UNRAVEL is disappointing. Moving on to the next dystopian novel.
"She didn't want to sit at the table, but nor could she face getting herself anything to eat just yet. She went to the nearest drink machine and dialed herself some hot chocolate."
Where to begin. Most books I always finish, whether it's horrific or amazing, but UNRAVEL was just…irritating! I got to page 183 and I was STILL bored out of my mind. I liked LINKED a lot, it was fast paced, interesting, and had a decent plot, but I would have liked this concept much better if it was just one book. I was excited to read UNRAVEL, with it's pretty cover and interesting summary, but I'm unimpressed.
[image error]
.So once the truth got out about the Spares; twins that are experimented in torturous labratories and used as a power source for space equipment (lost yet?) Lissa and her Spare Lin, decide to head back to their home planet, Seokia, and help with the disasterous aftermath of a society gone wrong. Brace yourself to read chapter upon chapter of our characters stuck in a rebel base where they sit around and talk, survive the same predictable flyer attacks, and drink hot chocolate. (Seriously, why is there so much hot chocolate in these books?)
And that was how far I got before I just had to tuck this book back into it's shelf. First off, the characters.I didn't get Lissa. She treats her twin like she's not even a human being, (even though Lissa constatly argues with people that Lin is in fact one) and is so mean. Why won't she cut her sister some slack? I know if mine survived unspeakable torture, I wouldn't be shunning her and giving her The Silent Treatment.
And the romance between Lissa and Cadan. By the end of book one, I was starting to think that Lissa and Cadan actually had some chemistry, but now…yeah, no. They constantly argue, and it feels like their realationship is so…forced. Not to mention the fact that the base is constantly in peril, and the whole time Lisssa is panicking that Cadan's parents don't approve of him dating her.
So that's all I really have to say about that. LINKED is a satisfiying book, but UNRAVEL is disappointing. Moving on to the next dystopian novel.
July 29, 2014
***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***
Unravel by Imogen Howson
Book Two of the Linked series
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: July 8, 2014
Rating: 4 stars
Source: eARC from Edelweiss
Summary (from Goodreads):
Untold dangers await telepathic twins in this sequel to the futuristic, romantic thriller called classic sci-fi, space-travel adventure at its best. After Elissa and Lin exposed the government's secret experiments in Linked, which Booklistcalled a roller-coaster ride into space that just about everyone should enjoy, their home planet Sekoia is thrown into chaos. Determined to do their part to help the planet they've hurt, they return to Sekoia only to discover that things are far worse that they imagined. Resources are suddenly scarce, people are scared, and there's a rising current of anger against the Spares. When Lissa and Lin find themselves among another group of Spares and twins, they feel like they've found their kindred spirits at last. But a threat none of them could have expected is lying in wait for Sekoia's Spares.
What I Liked:
YAY for another series completed! This one was a duo, so that made finishing the series easier. I like duos, because they're less stretched out and mass-marketed like trilogies. Also, with trilogies, the final book is almost always published more than a year after the second book. A year and a half to two years is the norm, it seems. I understand that the author wants to make the third book as fantastic as possible, but honestly, most of the time, when the author takes more than a year, the book ends up with a lower rating than a third book that published a year after the second. But I digress.
I liked this book a lot. I knew, after the first book ended, that there must be another book to the series. This book! I think this book does an excellent job of continuing the story from the first book, as well as wrapping up the series. The plot was weird - I felt like it was a lot of back-and-forth, but I was (overall) interested in knowing what was happening, what was going to happen, and what I missed (if I skipped over something).
Elissa and Lin are heading back to Sekoia, to try and help the planet with the space shuttles and hyperdrives. But when the girls and the rest of the Phoenix's crew reach Sekoia, they find that things are very different. The planet is under IPL law, not SFI law, and everything is chaos. They are taken into a safe house by Cadan's parents, which houses other twins and Spares, just like Elissa and Lin. But there are worse things than the abductions and raids happening on the planet, as everyone is about to find out.
Once again, Elissa is the twin I favor. I like Lin well enough, but she doesn't act human, and she has no compassion - except towards Elissa. Elissa is kind and thoughtful, with a soft heart and a hard-working attitude. I hate how she puts herself down all the time, thinking that she does nothing, while Cadan and Lin and Ivan and everyone else does something. Elissa always feels like she's dead weight, but she is so strong, such a wonderful heroine. Not every heroine has to save the world, and that's okay.
The story of this book was kind of weird. Part was spent trying to get to Sekoia. Part was spent figuring out that they need to take shelter on Sekoia. Then they went to the safe house. Then they had to leave the safe house. Then they were off to Philomel (a different planet). It was very see-saw-like, and honestly, a little bit exhausting to follow.
Howson injects seeds of conflict throughout the story though, and she goes straight for Cadan and Elissa's relationship. Cadan's parents didn't know that she and Cadan were dating, so when they see Cadan and Elissa together, they don't necessarily approve. Cadan's mother puts it in Elissa's mind that Elissa is distracting Cadan. Then there's Cadan himself - to Elissa, it seems like he isn't treating her like an adult. And Elissa - she is so insecure, but rightfully so. With Cadan's mother breathing down her back, less and less time with Cadan, and her growing doubt of the strength of their relationship, Elissa has every right to feel like her love life isn't in great shape.
What I like about this is how the author tests Elissa and Cadan, how she keeps throwing obstacles in their paths - whether it's the parents, or Elissa's self-doubt, or Cadan having to leave to pilot. It seems like every time that Cadan and Elissa get alone time, they either get interrupted really quickly, or they disagree about something. But they work things out, bit by bit, and I like that. I wanted to see more intimacy between them, but as an afterthought, I realize that it's not really their style. Oh well.
Stick with the story. It might seem cyclical, or tug-of-war-like, but it's necessary. Howson tackles Sekoia, then IPL, then the Spares, problem after problem after problem. Not that the Spares are a problem, necessarily, but there is a problem with them. The last 15% were CRAZY - Howson throws something at the very end that is not totally unexpected, but the way it happens is unexpected. I was shocked and enraged right along with a certain character, but in the end, I think it was bound to happen.
All in all, I'm satisfied with this book! It has a wonderful ending, not cookie-cutter perfect, but satisfying. I'm a tad bit confused as to how the IPL/Sekoia/Spares government/rights/problems worked out specifically, but I think that was just me rushing to get to the end. Don't do that. Take your time, at the end.
What I Did Not Like:
This book was so long. Nearly 500 pages? Woah. I was definitely intimidated from the beginning, especially after reading The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen (also somewhere between 400 and 500 pages). I feel like there were paragraphs in each chapter that really were not necessary. A good fraction of this book could have been cut down. In all honestly. I skipped whole pages of this book, when I saw that it was the same contemplation, the same musing, the same observation, over and over, just said differently. I definitely understand the basics and beyond. There was just too much narration and "fluff" for me.
And all that narration and musings and whatnot? It can be boring at times. That's why I skipped pages at a time, when I skipped at all. I hate skipping parts of a book. But you gotta do what you gotta do when a part of the book isn't holding your interest, but you want to finish the book. So.
Would I Recommend It:
I would most definitely recommend you read this book if you've already read Linked! I know there were some readers that thought that Linked ended well - but there is more to the story! And I liked the "more".
And if you haven't started this series, I would recommend the books! It's only a duo, and this is the last book (obviously), so, no waiting, no angst, no heartbreaking decisions or cliffhangers. These books are heavily science fiction, but I love the backseat romance, and the sisters theme. Definitely give these two books a try, if you love science fiction (or even if you don't)!
Rating:
4 stars. What a fabulous ending to this duo series! I'm sad that it ended (like with most series), but I think I like duos, how that they don't stretch on for miles (years) and leave me heartbroken (oftentimes). Well done, Imogen Howson!
Unravel by Imogen Howson
Book Two of the Linked series
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: July 8, 2014
Rating: 4 stars
Source: eARC from Edelweiss
Summary (from Goodreads):
Untold dangers await telepathic twins in this sequel to the futuristic, romantic thriller called classic sci-fi, space-travel adventure at its best. After Elissa and Lin exposed the government's secret experiments in Linked, which Booklistcalled a roller-coaster ride into space that just about everyone should enjoy, their home planet Sekoia is thrown into chaos. Determined to do their part to help the planet they've hurt, they return to Sekoia only to discover that things are far worse that they imagined. Resources are suddenly scarce, people are scared, and there's a rising current of anger against the Spares. When Lissa and Lin find themselves among another group of Spares and twins, they feel like they've found their kindred spirits at last. But a threat none of them could have expected is lying in wait for Sekoia's Spares.
What I Liked:
YAY for another series completed! This one was a duo, so that made finishing the series easier. I like duos, because they're less stretched out and mass-marketed like trilogies. Also, with trilogies, the final book is almost always published more than a year after the second book. A year and a half to two years is the norm, it seems. I understand that the author wants to make the third book as fantastic as possible, but honestly, most of the time, when the author takes more than a year, the book ends up with a lower rating than a third book that published a year after the second. But I digress.
I liked this book a lot. I knew, after the first book ended, that there must be another book to the series. This book! I think this book does an excellent job of continuing the story from the first book, as well as wrapping up the series. The plot was weird - I felt like it was a lot of back-and-forth, but I was (overall) interested in knowing what was happening, what was going to happen, and what I missed (if I skipped over something).
Elissa and Lin are heading back to Sekoia, to try and help the planet with the space shuttles and hyperdrives. But when the girls and the rest of the Phoenix's crew reach Sekoia, they find that things are very different. The planet is under IPL law, not SFI law, and everything is chaos. They are taken into a safe house by Cadan's parents, which houses other twins and Spares, just like Elissa and Lin. But there are worse things than the abductions and raids happening on the planet, as everyone is about to find out.
Once again, Elissa is the twin I favor. I like Lin well enough, but she doesn't act human, and she has no compassion - except towards Elissa. Elissa is kind and thoughtful, with a soft heart and a hard-working attitude. I hate how she puts herself down all the time, thinking that she does nothing, while Cadan and Lin and Ivan and everyone else does something. Elissa always feels like she's dead weight, but she is so strong, such a wonderful heroine. Not every heroine has to save the world, and that's okay.
The story of this book was kind of weird. Part was spent trying to get to Sekoia. Part was spent figuring out that they need to take shelter on Sekoia. Then they went to the safe house. Then they had to leave the safe house. Then they were off to Philomel (a different planet). It was very see-saw-like, and honestly, a little bit exhausting to follow.
Howson injects seeds of conflict throughout the story though, and she goes straight for Cadan and Elissa's relationship. Cadan's parents didn't know that she and Cadan were dating, so when they see Cadan and Elissa together, they don't necessarily approve. Cadan's mother puts it in Elissa's mind that Elissa is distracting Cadan. Then there's Cadan himself - to Elissa, it seems like he isn't treating her like an adult. And Elissa - she is so insecure, but rightfully so. With Cadan's mother breathing down her back, less and less time with Cadan, and her growing doubt of the strength of their relationship, Elissa has every right to feel like her love life isn't in great shape.
What I like about this is how the author tests Elissa and Cadan, how she keeps throwing obstacles in their paths - whether it's the parents, or Elissa's self-doubt, or Cadan having to leave to pilot. It seems like every time that Cadan and Elissa get alone time, they either get interrupted really quickly, or they disagree about something. But they work things out, bit by bit, and I like that. I wanted to see more intimacy between them, but as an afterthought, I realize that it's not really their style. Oh well.
Stick with the story. It might seem cyclical, or tug-of-war-like, but it's necessary. Howson tackles Sekoia, then IPL, then the Spares, problem after problem after problem. Not that the Spares are a problem, necessarily, but there is a problem with them. The last 15% were CRAZY - Howson throws something at the very end that is not totally unexpected, but the way it happens is unexpected. I was shocked and enraged right along with a certain character, but in the end, I think it was bound to happen.
All in all, I'm satisfied with this book! It has a wonderful ending, not cookie-cutter perfect, but satisfying. I'm a tad bit confused as to how the IPL/Sekoia/Spares government/rights/problems worked out specifically, but I think that was just me rushing to get to the end. Don't do that. Take your time, at the end.
What I Did Not Like:
This book was so long. Nearly 500 pages? Woah. I was definitely intimidated from the beginning, especially after reading The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen (also somewhere between 400 and 500 pages). I feel like there were paragraphs in each chapter that really were not necessary. A good fraction of this book could have been cut down. In all honestly. I skipped whole pages of this book, when I saw that it was the same contemplation, the same musing, the same observation, over and over, just said differently. I definitely understand the basics and beyond. There was just too much narration and "fluff" for me.
And all that narration and musings and whatnot? It can be boring at times. That's why I skipped pages at a time, when I skipped at all. I hate skipping parts of a book. But you gotta do what you gotta do when a part of the book isn't holding your interest, but you want to finish the book. So.
Would I Recommend It:
I would most definitely recommend you read this book if you've already read Linked! I know there were some readers that thought that Linked ended well - but there is more to the story! And I liked the "more".
And if you haven't started this series, I would recommend the books! It's only a duo, and this is the last book (obviously), so, no waiting, no angst, no heartbreaking decisions or cliffhangers. These books are heavily science fiction, but I love the backseat romance, and the sisters theme. Definitely give these two books a try, if you love science fiction (or even if you don't)!
Rating:
4 stars. What a fabulous ending to this duo series! I'm sad that it ended (like with most series), but I think I like duos, how that they don't stretch on for miles (years) and leave me heartbroken (oftentimes). Well done, Imogen Howson!
November 17, 2014
Okay let's start with the cover before I talk about the story. The cover is attractive to the eye but, if you haven't read the synopsis about the book you wouldn't even really understand how the cover relates to the story. The cover looks like bad pixel art and it's not even connected to the story.
The story takes place a few weeks after the events in Linked. So, Elissa, Lin, and Caden come back to Sekoia to "help" their planet but, they don't actually ever do anything leaving me to wonder was this just an added plot to get the story going. The story would be pretty bland and boring if you took away the action. It's mostly made up of Elissa and Caden arguing, Lin and Elissa arguing, or Elissa acting like a whiny child. And you also have a little action in there to keep the reader engaged . Towards the end of the book I was ready for Elissa or Lin to be killed, sadly Elissa did not die. I really wish the story had been told from Lin's perspective I feel like it could've been much better if it had been.
Elissa was very whiny in this book, she kept acting as if she wasn't good enough for Caden and she was having major self esteem issues. I really wished her and Caden had broke up. The way she treated Lin was as if Lin didn't know how to act around people and she was always saying Lin was a psychopath even when Lin could hear her thoughts.
Overall the the book was ok but, it could've been better. My rating is 3.5 stars.
August 11, 2014
I loved Linked. The cover was beautiful, the story enticing, and when I got Unravel, I nearly fell out of my seat with excitement! (Although a little daunted: 500 pages is A LOT) And as high as my expectations were, it didn't fall flat.
Admittedly, at first it felt a little bumpy--as action packed as it was a few pages in already, I couldn't really get into it and Elissa's back and forth decisions and opinions made me want to shake her and ask her to choose one and Cadan didn't really seem to understand where Elissa was coming from, while Lin herself was just...well, Lin. And then I realized this things were what made the book amazing. Elissa's personality throughout the book pretty much showed what I would've done in her situation, back and forth and all. It made her a sympathetic character who didn't know what was right, but wanted to do it anyways--to do her best. Cadan did understand Elissa--but he also understood Lin and he helped Elissa through the sisters' rough patches and I loved that. Lin...well Lin was Lin but once pointed out, it was obvious that Lin was acting like how anyone would after being locked up all her life. She acted like a child, possessive, temperamental, because for all intents and purposes she was. And Howson did a simply fabulous job portraying that.
What made Elissa such a great character was, I think, her doubt and her ability to push through that doubt and make the decisions she thought was best. In so many YA books we see that there's a line drawn between black and white for the characters--what's morally right and what's not. Elissa struggled to draw that line, struggled to make the distinction and when she did, Lin would jump in and give us another view. It questions a lot of things that we sometimes think about today--like the chicken and egg effect. If you treat someone like monsters because you think they're monsters...well, they're not going to stop because they're taught that they are monsters.
The relationships in the book were so...heartfelt. Lin and Elissa's relationship was, by far, the most important, and the most heartbreaking. We go through patches of confusion and betrayal and the wonders of "Will Lin hurt me? Even if she doesn't mean to?" and then the quick knowing that she wouldn't. It showed the faith that was needed in relationships, the trust that people put in each other, and I just adored it. I adored the fact that their relationship was heartfelt and real and I adored the fact that even after such a short time, they depended on each other more than they'd thought.
Speaking of relationships, the romance takes a backseat just like in Linked and it was something that just made it all the better. Like all the other relationships in the book, it felt just as real and just as, well, powerful.
Really, I'm sure I mentioned this in my review of Linked, but Howson really does do a magnificent and awe inspiring job of bringing this story to life. Clones (or twins in this case) is always a hard story to write, just because it's done so many times, but Howson manages to weave a completely different story with a completely different feel to it, one that's heartbreaking, and powerful, and makes you question morality and exactly what makes us human and what gives us morals--is it what we're taught, something we should learn? Or something we should know? There are also running themes of prejudice and hate crimes and I loved how the author brought these to attention while weaving them into the plot.
The plot, by the way, was just action packed and as amazing as you'd think. Bombs (metaphorical and literal), prejudice based societies, character growth, and on-the-run plots have never been more appealing to me than they have in Unravel. It was thrilling and I don't think I've ever read so many pages in one sitting. When you think the action's dying down, you realize it isn't and you're thrown back in the frenzy all over again. My only complaint was the last plot line or the last, what, 15 chapters? Could've been extended into a whole 'nother book, another sequel. It seemed to rushed, to fast, and too much an attempt to wrap up all the endings. It also made a certain character's growth seem a bit to...spurt rather than growth, if you know what I mean.
Unravel is a brilliant sequel though that I absolutely (and actually, sort of unexpectedly) loved! It was thrilling, heart pounding, and everything a sci fi book should be. I feel like it was more exciting than Linked and I definitely felt like all the relationships in this one grew along with the characters until it was as fleshed out as it was. Unravel is definitely one you have to read if you've read the first book and I, personally, don't think that's negotiable!
Admittedly, at first it felt a little bumpy--as action packed as it was a few pages in already, I couldn't really get into it and Elissa's back and forth decisions and opinions made me want to shake her and ask her to choose one and Cadan didn't really seem to understand where Elissa was coming from, while Lin herself was just...well, Lin. And then I realized this things were what made the book amazing. Elissa's personality throughout the book pretty much showed what I would've done in her situation, back and forth and all. It made her a sympathetic character who didn't know what was right, but wanted to do it anyways--to do her best. Cadan did understand Elissa--but he also understood Lin and he helped Elissa through the sisters' rough patches and I loved that. Lin...well Lin was Lin but once pointed out, it was obvious that Lin was acting like how anyone would after being locked up all her life. She acted like a child, possessive, temperamental, because for all intents and purposes she was. And Howson did a simply fabulous job portraying that.
What made Elissa such a great character was, I think, her doubt and her ability to push through that doubt and make the decisions she thought was best. In so many YA books we see that there's a line drawn between black and white for the characters--what's morally right and what's not. Elissa struggled to draw that line, struggled to make the distinction and when she did, Lin would jump in and give us another view. It questions a lot of things that we sometimes think about today--like the chicken and egg effect. If you treat someone like monsters because you think they're monsters...well, they're not going to stop because they're taught that they are monsters.
The relationships in the book were so...heartfelt. Lin and Elissa's relationship was, by far, the most important, and the most heartbreaking. We go through patches of confusion and betrayal and the wonders of "Will Lin hurt me? Even if she doesn't mean to?" and then the quick knowing that she wouldn't. It showed the faith that was needed in relationships, the trust that people put in each other, and I just adored it. I adored the fact that their relationship was heartfelt and real and I adored the fact that even after such a short time, they depended on each other more than they'd thought.
Speaking of relationships, the romance takes a backseat just like in Linked and it was something that just made it all the better. Like all the other relationships in the book, it felt just as real and just as, well, powerful.
Really, I'm sure I mentioned this in my review of Linked, but Howson really does do a magnificent and awe inspiring job of bringing this story to life. Clones (or twins in this case) is always a hard story to write, just because it's done so many times, but Howson manages to weave a completely different story with a completely different feel to it, one that's heartbreaking, and powerful, and makes you question morality and exactly what makes us human and what gives us morals--is it what we're taught, something we should learn? Or something we should know? There are also running themes of prejudice and hate crimes and I loved how the author brought these to attention while weaving them into the plot.
The plot, by the way, was just action packed and as amazing as you'd think. Bombs (metaphorical and literal), prejudice based societies, character growth, and on-the-run plots have never been more appealing to me than they have in Unravel. It was thrilling and I don't think I've ever read so many pages in one sitting. When you think the action's dying down, you realize it isn't and you're thrown back in the frenzy all over again. My only complaint was the last plot line or the last, what, 15 chapters? Could've been extended into a whole 'nother book, another sequel. It seemed to rushed, to fast, and too much an attempt to wrap up all the endings. It also made a certain character's growth seem a bit to...spurt rather than growth, if you know what I mean.
Unravel is a brilliant sequel though that I absolutely (and actually, sort of unexpectedly) loved! It was thrilling, heart pounding, and everything a sci fi book should be. I feel like it was more exciting than Linked and I definitely felt like all the relationships in this one grew along with the characters until it was as fleshed out as it was. Unravel is definitely one you have to read if you've read the first book and I, personally, don't think that's negotiable!
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July 23, 2014
2.5 / 5 stars rating
This review is also posted at http://readingnookandcranny.blogspot....
I was probably more disappointed in this novel than I have the right to be. Perhaps the stunning cover sucked me in and made me believe the story would be as enticing as the art. Perhaps I was still so excited about Linked, especially since my copy just arrived for my personal collection, that I held Howson up on a pedestal where she didn't belong. But man, it's hard to figure out where to start with my review for Unravel now that I finally trudged the entire way through it.
Or, perhaps, no it's not. I'm going to start with Elissa, and on the same note her relationship with Cadan. Man, Elissa seems like a typically teenager in this novel. She spends almost the entire novel whining and complaining about the same things over and over again. And her continual deficit of self assurance in her relationship with Cadan made me want to reach through the pages of the novel and choke the biotch. I even had the same problem with Lin in this book as well.
Linked was great because it was such an unique sci-fi story turned space opera. Though I didn't necessarily like the paranormal element they added to the story, the perks of Linked far outweighed the flaws. In Unravel, it felt like Howson made a complete 180. While Linked showed signs of the romance aspect, it was tolerable. In Unravel, it becomes center stage, and you spend half the novel listening to Elissa's self conscious inner monologue while she goes back and forth over her relationship with Cadan. The addition of parents into the equation only made things 10x worst. It was infuriating reading Elissa have the same doubts and then have the same fight with Cadan over and over and over again.
I felt like Elissa was a suicidal teenager while reading the narrative of this novel. Rarely any of it happens in deep space, and if she isn't worried about Cadan, then she is having doubts about Lin or fighting with her instead. While angsty teenagers may love this novel, it was hard for me to get through. It's difficult to tell if Unravel was the end of a series or if Howson wants to continue with the series further, but I feel as if I must go back and treat Linked like a stand alone novel, especially since it worked well that way.
This review is also posted at http://readingnookandcranny.blogspot....
I was probably more disappointed in this novel than I have the right to be. Perhaps the stunning cover sucked me in and made me believe the story would be as enticing as the art. Perhaps I was still so excited about Linked, especially since my copy just arrived for my personal collection, that I held Howson up on a pedestal where she didn't belong. But man, it's hard to figure out where to start with my review for Unravel now that I finally trudged the entire way through it.
Or, perhaps, no it's not. I'm going to start with Elissa, and on the same note her relationship with Cadan. Man, Elissa seems like a typically teenager in this novel. She spends almost the entire novel whining and complaining about the same things over and over again. And her continual deficit of self assurance in her relationship with Cadan made me want to reach through the pages of the novel and choke the biotch. I even had the same problem with Lin in this book as well.
Linked was great because it was such an unique sci-fi story turned space opera. Though I didn't necessarily like the paranormal element they added to the story, the perks of Linked far outweighed the flaws. In Unravel, it felt like Howson made a complete 180. While Linked showed signs of the romance aspect, it was tolerable. In Unravel, it becomes center stage, and you spend half the novel listening to Elissa's self conscious inner monologue while she goes back and forth over her relationship with Cadan. The addition of parents into the equation only made things 10x worst. It was infuriating reading Elissa have the same doubts and then have the same fight with Cadan over and over and over again.
I felt like Elissa was a suicidal teenager while reading the narrative of this novel. Rarely any of it happens in deep space, and if she isn't worried about Cadan, then she is having doubts about Lin or fighting with her instead. While angsty teenagers may love this novel, it was hard for me to get through. It's difficult to tell if Unravel was the end of a series or if Howson wants to continue with the series further, but I feel as if I must go back and treat Linked like a stand alone novel, especially since it worked well that way.
September 12, 2016
Yay for finishing my first duology of 2016!*applause*
This novel improved on many of the things the first book lacked, such as the world building, the character development, and the romance.
Firstly, Howson's writing style is entrancing. Her descriptions are spot on and they make for great visual inspiration. I could see the action unfolding before my eyes like a movie.
I love the sister relationship between Elissa and Lin. The differences in their personalities compliment each other. The way they interact and depend on each other for emotional support really shows how much they love each other without having to say it. Speaking of Elissa and Lin, Lin's character is explored much more in this novel, which I greatly appreciate.
Also, hurray for the improvement of Caden and Elissa's relationship. This novel redeemed them from the instalove in Linked.
More than anything else, I think this entire duology brings up some pretty deep themes:
What does it mean to be human?
Is our love for others conditional?
Is the law always right?
If you like science fiction, if you like action, and if you like duologies, you've come to the right place. I highly recommend.
August 23, 2015
As well done and great as this book was, I can't give it as many stars as the first due to how much the main character annoyed me, she spent 85% of the book whining insistently about stuff and then back tracking and whining about the opposite.
I cannot fault the plot though. Although spares are now seen legally as human, a lot of people disagree, and Lissa, Lin, Cadan and the rest of the crew of the Pheonix go back to their own planet to help it out of this disaster, only to be greeted with hostility and open attacks. The IPS tell them to leave for another planet with a group of twins and spares for their own safety.
Lin and Lissa enjoy meeting all the other spares; Ady and Zee, Samuel and Jay, Sophia and El, and a spare all on her own Cassiopia, however Zee is starting to act strangely and once they near the planet a message comes through to separate twins and spares immediately, but it is too late, Zee is already attacking and has killed Ady before he is subduded, and when Zee realises what he's done, he wants to die.
It turns out there's a trigger in the spares minds and if they see thier twin too often it snaps and won't resnap until the twin is dead.
Lissa is forced to face her family, and her brother, who don't understand her link with her sister, or even think of her as human.
Determined to protect Lissa, her brother abducts her and forces her to have the operation that severs the link. Lissa is furious, and when she returns without the link, has to prove to Lin they had more than a link in common to stop her from becoming a mass murderer.
Bruce tries to fix his actions by becoming a public speaker for the spares, which leads to them being in the public eye more often, and people seeing them as human, and when they all volunteer to help hyperdrive the ships everything is normal.
Then, just at the end, a flicker of their link has returned, proving the brain does repair itself.
A compelling read which covers a lot of issues and is just so interesting and unique.
I cannot fault the plot though. Although spares are now seen legally as human, a lot of people disagree, and Lissa, Lin, Cadan and the rest of the crew of the Pheonix go back to their own planet to help it out of this disaster, only to be greeted with hostility and open attacks. The IPS tell them to leave for another planet with a group of twins and spares for their own safety.
Lin and Lissa enjoy meeting all the other spares; Ady and Zee, Samuel and Jay, Sophia and El, and a spare all on her own Cassiopia, however Zee is starting to act strangely and once they near the planet a message comes through to separate twins and spares immediately, but it is too late, Zee is already attacking and has killed Ady before he is subduded, and when Zee realises what he's done, he wants to die.
It turns out there's a trigger in the spares minds and if they see thier twin too often it snaps and won't resnap until the twin is dead.
Lissa is forced to face her family, and her brother, who don't understand her link with her sister, or even think of her as human.
Determined to protect Lissa, her brother abducts her and forces her to have the operation that severs the link. Lissa is furious, and when she returns without the link, has to prove to Lin they had more than a link in common to stop her from becoming a mass murderer.
Bruce tries to fix his actions by becoming a public speaker for the spares, which leads to them being in the public eye more often, and people seeing them as human, and when they all volunteer to help hyperdrive the ships everything is normal.
Then, just at the end, a flicker of their link has returned, proving the brain does repair itself.
A compelling read which covers a lot of issues and is just so interesting and unique.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 20, 2014
REVIEW BY SARAH 9:2
Unravel is a sequel to LINKED. I loved the book linked, it really drew you in and the characters were really relatable.
Untold dangers await the telepathic twins in this sequel to the romantic, futuristic, thriller. The two twins called Elissa and Lin, head back to their planet (Sekoia) to help fix the problems they caused. Although, when the girls and the crew reached Sekoia they find the planet a very different place. Taken to safe houses along with other spares and twins like them but there are worse things happening outside.
I liked this book very much although I found it a bit repetitive, the plot sometimes felt like it was going back and forth without actually drawing you in or making you want to know what happens. On the contrary, I felt that this book does a very good job of continuing the story on from the first book.
The story of Elissa and Cadan carries on, but I would of liked to see a bit more intimacy and a bit more of a connection between them. It felt like Elissa was always blaming herself for why Cadan was being distant and she was always putting herself down. In the narrative, she thinks she is dead weight but she is really intelligent and strong. Elissa is my favourite character in this book because I felt I could make more of a connection with her and understand her feelings.
Overall, I enjoyed this book thoroughly. At the end I rushed it a little bit but I would recommend taking it slow and reading it all through to the end otherwise, it could get a little confusing. I didn’t like how much narration there was because I ended up skipping parts of the book because I felt that I had to.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who liked the first book but also to anyone that likes a book with a little excitement in it.
Unravel is a sequel to LINKED. I loved the book linked, it really drew you in and the characters were really relatable.
Untold dangers await the telepathic twins in this sequel to the romantic, futuristic, thriller. The two twins called Elissa and Lin, head back to their planet (Sekoia) to help fix the problems they caused. Although, when the girls and the crew reached Sekoia they find the planet a very different place. Taken to safe houses along with other spares and twins like them but there are worse things happening outside.
I liked this book very much although I found it a bit repetitive, the plot sometimes felt like it was going back and forth without actually drawing you in or making you want to know what happens. On the contrary, I felt that this book does a very good job of continuing the story on from the first book.
The story of Elissa and Cadan carries on, but I would of liked to see a bit more intimacy and a bit more of a connection between them. It felt like Elissa was always blaming herself for why Cadan was being distant and she was always putting herself down. In the narrative, she thinks she is dead weight but she is really intelligent and strong. Elissa is my favourite character in this book because I felt I could make more of a connection with her and understand her feelings.
Overall, I enjoyed this book thoroughly. At the end I rushed it a little bit but I would recommend taking it slow and reading it all through to the end otherwise, it could get a little confusing. I didn’t like how much narration there was because I ended up skipping parts of the book because I felt that I had to.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who liked the first book but also to anyone that likes a book with a little excitement in it.
July 9, 2016
I really powered through this book, and I don't mean in a good way. I mean in a "so utterly determined to finish this book so I can move on" way. I was fed up with Elissa before chapter 3, what with her constant insecurity, moral high ground, and whining. And it wasn't just Elissa; Unraveled's characters made me want to set it down, burn it, and walk away.
In particular, let's take a moment to consider Elissa and Cadan's relationship. It was terrible. They fought all the time, and by that I mean around every other page. I couldn't help but root for them to break up or for one of them to die.
The book was somewhat salvaged in the last 100 pages or so. The plot picked up the pace, came to a point, Elissa did something different than complain and express her insecurities, and Lin even became interesting after having been this essentially subservient twin to Elissa.
Nonetheless, I breathed a sigh of relief when I closed this book for good, and didn't hesitate to open a new one.
In particular, let's take a moment to consider Elissa and Cadan's relationship. It was terrible. They fought all the time, and by that I mean around every other page. I couldn't help but root for them to break up or for one of them to die.
The book was somewhat salvaged in the last 100 pages or so. The plot picked up the pace, came to a point, Elissa did something different than complain and express her insecurities, and Lin even became interesting after having been this essentially subservient twin to Elissa.
Nonetheless, I breathed a sigh of relief when I closed this book for good, and didn't hesitate to open a new one.
October 17, 2014
Can't even! This is sooo poorly written that even I, who read more books in a series if the story line is good, cannot/could not finish this book. By inserting -Oh my God, or God, or God- every five lines does not make the book appeal to YA. I am a YA teenager, who loves Sci-Fi did not like it. Also just because the general teenage populace says "like" every two seconds does not mean the books we read should. Instead it should move us away. I know that I takes pieces of books I like and use some of the better mannerisms in my real life. Seriously, this was so bad that this is my longest review so far.
October 24, 2014
I couldn't even get through this book. Elissa is such a child - a child who doesn't sympathize with her sister and the torture she's been through. It's hard to get through the endless pages of countless flyer attacks and hot chocolate sipping. C and E's relationship feels forced to the point of irritation. If you enjoyed Linked, forgo this sequel. If you didn't enjoy Linked and were hoping for a redemption novel, look elsewhere.
March 1, 2015
brilliant book had me hooked and I couldn't put it down.
good character and plot development continued on from the first book.
hope that there will be more than just the two books so far
really got to like the characters and want to see how they get on and any further adventures challenges they have / have to overcome.
good character and plot development continued on from the first book.
hope that there will be more than just the two books so far
really got to like the characters and want to see how they get on and any further adventures challenges they have / have to overcome.
January 15, 2015
Damn, This was soo good that I had to shed tears of joy. My many thanks to the writer for this awesome book to start the year with. READ THE SERIES. YOU WILL LIKE IT. Well except some itty-bitty part that I also didn't like obviously, but this was amazing.
Shelved as 'abandoned'
January 26, 2015
March 20, 2015
ohmahgawd Cadan <3
April 23, 2022
I feel like the writing and idea/concept was very creative. Like Linked, Unravel read younger at times, though for longer passages of time, but this is a reflection of the age of the protagonist and how she is coping. I felt there were some thought provoking subjects to the story. It was interesting to see the different viewpoints of the characters, and what they did or did not do about those viewpoints, and I felt it was a great reflection of everyday problems that people face in life.
While different types of relationships were still explored, Unravel focused more on the family/blood related relationships and the 'romance'. It did like seeing how the dynamics evolved between the characters.
There was a strong emphasis on the psychology, social interactions, the complexities of trying to sort out emotions and opinions of relationships, and a general realization of the effects of one's mind after trauma. The characters are put through situations that would be difficult to handle, regardless of age, training, experience, or mental state. We see the consequences of traumatic events had on the minds of developing adolescence. While I can see some people finding this fascinating, this aspect of the story dragged for me, and was often wordy, and accompanied by a LOT teen angst, which I found annoying at times.
The romanticism concerning a relationship with ages that would not be appropriate in real life, that started in Linked, continued in Unravel. The romanticized relationship is fictional, and works in a fictional setting. I will say like in Linked, Unravel didn't have any explicit 'steamy' scenes which I appreciated, but more of quick yet intimate kisses.
There was a turning point for Elissa, where she comes to a realization of sorts, that affects her character and those close to her. This turning point offered a chance at maturity for Elissa and a chance of healing for Lin. I felt this particular scene was done very well.
The ending was done in a way that wrapped up Unravel in a neat little bow, if you will. The ending gave detailed accounts and conclusion of what would be next within Sekoia, for the world itself and the characters.
Unravel has more graphic content than Linked had. There is blood, severed limbs, and severe violence. There are scenes of gunfights and the events during and after grenades. There are some other potential triggering events.
Overall, while I enjoy reading Unravel, I did not enjoy it as much as I did Linked. Regardless, I do still feel Unravel is very well written and would be enjoyed most by those that like to explore and study the psychology of the characters they are reading about.
While different types of relationships were still explored, Unravel focused more on the family/blood related relationships and the 'romance'. It did like seeing how the dynamics evolved between the characters.
There was a strong emphasis on the psychology, social interactions, the complexities of trying to sort out emotions and opinions of relationships, and a general realization of the effects of one's mind after trauma. The characters are put through situations that would be difficult to handle, regardless of age, training, experience, or mental state. We see the consequences of traumatic events had on the minds of developing adolescence. While I can see some people finding this fascinating, this aspect of the story dragged for me, and was often wordy, and accompanied by a LOT teen angst, which I found annoying at times.
"Elissa found herself staring kind of blankly at what he was doing, tiredly glad of something to focus on that wasn't words and emotions and the impossible, heartbreaking complexities of a relationship that mattered more than anything and yet she couldn't seem to see how to handle." -Imogen Howson, Unravel
The romanticism concerning a relationship with ages that would not be appropriate in real life, that started in Linked, continued in Unravel. The romanticized relationship is fictional, and works in a fictional setting. I will say like in Linked, Unravel didn't have any explicit 'steamy' scenes which I appreciated, but more of quick yet intimate kisses.
There was a turning point for Elissa, where she comes to a realization of sorts, that affects her character and those close to her. This turning point offered a chance at maturity for Elissa and a chance of healing for Lin. I felt this particular scene was done very well.
The ending was done in a way that wrapped up Unravel in a neat little bow, if you will. The ending gave detailed accounts and conclusion of what would be next within Sekoia, for the world itself and the characters.
Unravel has more graphic content than Linked had. There is blood, severed limbs, and severe violence. There are scenes of gunfights and the events during and after grenades. There are some other potential triggering events.
Overall, while I enjoy reading Unravel, I did not enjoy it as much as I did Linked. Regardless, I do still feel Unravel is very well written and would be enjoyed most by those that like to explore and study the psychology of the characters they are reading about.
July 24, 2017
I really liked this final book. There was a lot more world building. I also enjoyed meeting the new characters, and I liked each one of them. The plot progressed at the same pace as the previous one did, although this time there were many more roadblocks for the characters to encounter. This made the plot just as fast-paced, but more thrilling. Just as things would start to calm down, another problem would arise. I was on the edge of my seat more with this final book. The plot consisted of more about the Spares, and the fact that Elissa and her twin sister Lin are deciding to go back to their home planet Sekoia and reunite other people with their twins. Along the way, Elissa and Lin meet other twins and Spares. They realize that Spares have different abilities, and that not all twins share a link. There are some who are connected and some who aren't. Also, not all people have even met their twin.
I loved the twist with Spares regarding the link. I was wondering how the author would explain it. I also liked how Elissa and Lin's relationship was tested. There is some unresolved trust between them. The romance between Elissa and Cadan developed like a typical YA romance. I felt like Elissa was immature regarding her relationship. She let miscommunication get in the way, and I hate it when too much of that gets in the way. I can handle some miscommunication, but it was a little melodramatic for my taste. However, considering everything that Elissa experienced, she was a rockstar in pretty much everything else. This was a great duology, and I would consider rereading it in the future.
I loved the twist with Spares regarding the link. I was wondering how the author would explain it. I also liked how Elissa and Lin's relationship was tested. There is some unresolved trust between them. The romance between Elissa and Cadan developed like a typical YA romance. I felt like Elissa was immature regarding her relationship. She let miscommunication get in the way, and I hate it when too much of that gets in the way. I can handle some miscommunication, but it was a little melodramatic for my taste. However, considering everything that Elissa experienced, she was a rockstar in pretty much everything else. This was a great duology, and I would consider rereading it in the future.
December 25, 2017
Remember my complaint about the end of the first book containing the romance I thought we were avoiding?
It gets worse, so far. I'm 124 pages in and, while there's been some action and interesting developments, much of Elissa's focus is on Cadan. Would he have liked her if their lives had been normal? Is she lesser than Lin in his eyes because she has no special talents or focus? Does Cadan still think she's spoiled? Did he tell his parents about their relationship? Will they last, when Cadan is of course Mr. Perfect Commanding In Charge Heartthrob Blondie Captain Et Cetera Et Cetera Gag Me With a Rusty Spoon and Elissa is the Quintessential Bland-But-For-Occasional-Bouts-of-Interest "Heroine"?
(Honestly, what Elissa needs more than anything except perhaps a safe haven is some cognitive behavioral therapy. She's got major self-esteem issues. Because, of course she does.)
Seriously. Stop. Get back to the goddamned story.
I swear, if the problem is the genre I'm reading-- and I don't feel that it is, because I have found YA books I love whose writing is exquisite and whose characters make me laugh or grip the covers in anticipation, etc.-- then I wish there were books targeting people closer to my age with similar plots, but better writing and characters.
And another thing...I promise you, Ms. Howson, teenagers have seen the word "fucking" before. The amount of times you use "freaking" and "jeez" could be a drinking game. Fucking hell.
You know what else is interesting? The amount of times "God" is used considering this does not appear to be a society which observes any of the religious which gave rise to the expressions containing the name.
It gets worse, so far. I'm 124 pages in and, while there's been some action and interesting developments, much of Elissa's focus is on Cadan. Would he have liked her if their lives had been normal? Is she lesser than Lin in his eyes because she has no special talents or focus? Does Cadan still think she's spoiled? Did he tell his parents about their relationship? Will they last, when Cadan is of course Mr. Perfect Commanding In Charge Heartthrob Blondie Captain Et Cetera Et Cetera Gag Me With a Rusty Spoon and Elissa is the Quintessential Bland-But-For-Occasional-Bouts-of-Interest "Heroine"?
(Honestly, what Elissa needs more than anything except perhaps a safe haven is some cognitive behavioral therapy. She's got major self-esteem issues. Because, of course she does.)
Seriously. Stop. Get back to the goddamned story.
I swear, if the problem is the genre I'm reading-- and I don't feel that it is, because I have found YA books I love whose writing is exquisite and whose characters make me laugh or grip the covers in anticipation, etc.-- then I wish there were books targeting people closer to my age with similar plots, but better writing and characters.
And another thing...I promise you, Ms. Howson, teenagers have seen the word "fucking" before. The amount of times you use "freaking" and "jeez" could be a drinking game. Fucking hell.
You know what else is interesting? The amount of times "God" is used considering this does not appear to be a society which observes any of the religious which gave rise to the expressions containing the name.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 28, 2019
Did not finish at 30%.
I couldn't take anymore. This book was a never ending whine fest. Lissa constantly insecure and jealous about every little thing. She treats her sister Lin terribly. She has this relationship with Caden, but does nothing but argue with him and get annoyed about stupid shit. For example, he says that if they wee in their regular life, who knows if they would have gotten together. And she gets annoyed by that. Girl, he was your older brother's friend and was in an entirely different world than you with the flight stuff. She can't hold him accountable for something that may or may not have happened. Just because she has been in love with him since she was 13, doesn't make him feel the same way for that long. Nor does it matter if he loves you now. She is constantly trying to understand things from the other person's perspective, but then still reads way too far into what they're saying and devolves entirely.
Also, Lin is something else. I honestly would say she is a sociopath, if not for the fact that she really wasn't raised with manners or notions of the world. As it is, she's pretty borderline there and I just couldn't take her anymore either.
I couldn't take anymore. This book was a never ending whine fest. Lissa constantly insecure and jealous about every little thing. She treats her sister Lin terribly. She has this relationship with Caden, but does nothing but argue with him and get annoyed about stupid shit. For example, he says that if they wee in their regular life, who knows if they would have gotten together. And she gets annoyed by that. Girl, he was your older brother's friend and was in an entirely different world than you with the flight stuff. She can't hold him accountable for something that may or may not have happened. Just because she has been in love with him since she was 13, doesn't make him feel the same way for that long. Nor does it matter if he loves you now. She is constantly trying to understand things from the other person's perspective, but then still reads way too far into what they're saying and devolves entirely.
Also, Lin is something else. I honestly would say she is a sociopath, if not for the fact that she really wasn't raised with manners or notions of the world. As it is, she's pretty borderline there and I just couldn't take her anymore either.
May 7, 2018
Overall it was pretty bad.
The plot was very uneventful and pretty much a poor repeat of the first book.
Lin is ridiculous. I don't care how messed up you are, you do not possess you sister and make them kill people for you.
In the first book Elissa's character was pretty well-developed and you really felt like you understood how she thinks. In this book she is very poorly written. She thinks about how insensitive Lin is being but takes no action to stop it. Seriously, she needs to stop depending on Cadan to make her decisions.
The phrase 'Oh god.' is used about twice a sentence and all of the characters are extremely cliche and shallow.
Cadan revealing that she is the 'only girl he's ever cared about' was pathetic. The whole deal with him is that he's the guy who dates everyone.
It was very cliche, annoying and overall boring.
I am only giving it two stars because the ending was ok.
The plot was very uneventful and pretty much a poor repeat of the first book.
Lin is ridiculous. I don't care how messed up you are, you do not possess you sister and make them kill people for you.
In the first book Elissa's character was pretty well-developed and you really felt like you understood how she thinks. In this book she is very poorly written. She thinks about how insensitive Lin is being but takes no action to stop it. Seriously, she needs to stop depending on Cadan to make her decisions.
The phrase 'Oh god.' is used about twice a sentence and all of the characters are extremely cliche and shallow.
Cadan revealing that she is the 'only girl he's ever cared about' was pathetic. The whole deal with him is that he's the guy who dates everyone.
It was very cliche, annoying and overall boring.
I am only giving it two stars because the ending was ok.
March 13, 2023
Sometimes there is too much romance angst.
The sisters try to figure out what to do to help with the situation they caused and they learn to trust and work with each other and try to overcome Lin's anger and inhumanity.
There are several unravelings (initially anyway, some get repaired): Caden and Elissa's relationship, the society of the world because of the exposure of the Spares and the humanity/empathy of Lin, the relationship of Lin and Elissa, and the relationships of the other twins. (It doesn't help if you have no privacy because your twin knows both your thoughts and what you say to anyone you talk to.)
The sisters try to figure out what to do to help with the situation they caused and they learn to trust and work with each other and try to overcome Lin's anger and inhumanity.
There are several unravelings (initially anyway, some get repaired): Caden and Elissa's relationship, the society of the world because of the exposure of the Spares and the humanity/empathy of Lin, the relationship of Lin and Elissa, and the relationships of the other twins. (It doesn't help if you have no privacy because your twin knows both your thoughts and what you say to anyone you talk to.)
September 29, 2017
Ugh, this book would be so much better without the teenage angst. It is very believable angst, I could see a teen thinking these things. But maybe that is why I have such an issue with it (as an adult that has to deal with teens, I don't want to have to deal with it in my books too).
I think the first one was better. I also think the ending of this one was too "nice" tied up in a nice little bow. It went from everything going down the drain and possible horribleness, to happy ending in less then 20 pages.
I think the first one was better. I also think the ending of this one was too "nice" tied up in a nice little bow. It went from everything going down the drain and possible horribleness, to happy ending in less then 20 pages.
May 15, 2018
So much fitted into one book. The first book was lovely. This sequel is well, okay.
Elissa is portrayed more as a confused, highly insecure character, so different from the first book. This is sad.
Yes, I have fallen in love with Cadan. And rightfully so. According to me, he's the real hero of this book. And the heroine? Sweetie Lin :)
Elissa is portrayed more as a confused, highly insecure character, so different from the first book. This is sad.
Yes, I have fallen in love with Cadan. And rightfully so. According to me, he's the real hero of this book. And the heroine? Sweetie Lin :)
May 18, 2023
I loved the first book, this one was a disappointment and I was really bored. I spent forever until I could just read an overview of what happens and I am glad I didn't have to read all of that that the short little overview covered for me. 500 pages, to many.
March 1, 2019
4.5/5
October 5, 2019
Borrowed from library:
Continues story of "Linked".
Twin link and paranormal powers in future setting. Nicely written, easy to follow and lose yourself in♡
Continues story of "Linked".
Twin link and paranormal powers in future setting. Nicely written, easy to follow and lose yourself in♡
January 18, 2021
I had really high hopes for this book when I read it. I loved the first book but in this book I was bored the whole time and didn’t really know what was happening.
Read
September 1, 2016Unravel by Imogen Howson is the second book in the Linked series and picks up shortly after book one ends. Elissa and Lin have found one another and make it to sanctuary but have decided they need to go back and help their home planet. With the help of the crew of Phoenix, they find their way back to deal with some series aftermath. This is the second book in the series so there might be some spoilers from book 1.
I really enjoyed Elissa character in the first book. I was amazed at how timid she was in the beginning and then really took charge to save her sister. She didn’t always make the best decisions because she wasn’t exactly skilled at being on the run. She would stop and try to find a new way out of it and was ready to lay down her life to protect Lin. At the beginning of Unravel now that Elissa has accomplished what she set out to do, it’s like her insecurities are catching up to her. Lin is out shining her and everyone else seems to have special skills. Elissa feels like she no longer has a place, nothing that makes her special. I loved the turn her character takes because I think it really shows how the events of the first book have impacted her. I think I would feel the same way as she does. It’s like that moment you realize your child doesn’t need you anymore (even though they do just a different way) and you can’t see how they still do. I loved seeing Elissa change and make more stupid mistakes and then realizing she made them and fixing them. Growing as she gets a better understanding and of course her hidden fearlessness that comes out in tough spots.
Oh Elissa...I actually enjoy Cadan and her romance even with her annoying insecurities. She is constantly calling herself on it all the time but there are also times where Cadan has his unsure moments and you want him to validate it as a reader. Plus throw in Cadan’s mother, or throw her overboard maybe. You know how in a lot of books the guys are so sure and the girl has doubts. It kind of felt like a regular relationship between Cadan and Elissa where they both have their moments. You could see Elissa wasn’t understanding that as much as Cadan at times made her feel insecure. She was doing the same thing to him. I liked that it’s not fate/destiny driven and it’s more about how they slowly but then all at once fell for one another. I love their imperfect perfect relationship.
Poor Lin, it’s hard not to feel for her. She no doubt PTSD from her experiences at the facilities, all the twins must. The prejudices they face after the fact are horrible. I kept getting mad at the book and yelling in my head stop calling them “clones” and “spares” they are people. It’s not fault what other people have done to them. They are just trying to learn how to be human and are not finding any good examples from the people in society. Ugh it just made me feel for her.
I continued to love the plot and it’s flawless transition from one book to the next. If you read the books back to back it flows from one to the other easily. Things are explained again but mostly when you need to be reminded and it’s not over done. I feel like that’s a pitfall sometimes of second books, the info dump summary. Which can get boring if you still remember the previous book. I also really love how this book is the aftermath of winning the war. Most series end with the victory but you don’t know how they rebuilt or if they rebuilt. This book is how you can do something good but end up with bad results. It doesn’t changed that what you did was the right thing but it definitely shows that it’s not necessarily all sunshine, rainbows and lollipops after.
I figured I would like the Linked series being a sci-fi fanatic and all but I really loved these books. I thought the plot was great and unique. I bonded with the characters and not just the main ones. I loved the romance that was involved. Plus just how the first and second books fit together and felt like they flowed one right into the next. It’s one for the shelves.
I really enjoyed Elissa character in the first book. I was amazed at how timid she was in the beginning and then really took charge to save her sister. She didn’t always make the best decisions because she wasn’t exactly skilled at being on the run. She would stop and try to find a new way out of it and was ready to lay down her life to protect Lin. At the beginning of Unravel now that Elissa has accomplished what she set out to do, it’s like her insecurities are catching up to her. Lin is out shining her and everyone else seems to have special skills. Elissa feels like she no longer has a place, nothing that makes her special. I loved the turn her character takes because I think it really shows how the events of the first book have impacted her. I think I would feel the same way as she does. It’s like that moment you realize your child doesn’t need you anymore (even though they do just a different way) and you can’t see how they still do. I loved seeing Elissa change and make more stupid mistakes and then realizing she made them and fixing them. Growing as she gets a better understanding and of course her hidden fearlessness that comes out in tough spots.
Oh Elissa...I actually enjoy Cadan and her romance even with her annoying insecurities. She is constantly calling herself on it all the time but there are also times where Cadan has his unsure moments and you want him to validate it as a reader. Plus throw in Cadan’s mother, or throw her overboard maybe. You know how in a lot of books the guys are so sure and the girl has doubts. It kind of felt like a regular relationship between Cadan and Elissa where they both have their moments. You could see Elissa wasn’t understanding that as much as Cadan at times made her feel insecure. She was doing the same thing to him. I liked that it’s not fate/destiny driven and it’s more about how they slowly but then all at once fell for one another. I love their imperfect perfect relationship.
Poor Lin, it’s hard not to feel for her. She no doubt PTSD from her experiences at the facilities, all the twins must. The prejudices they face after the fact are horrible. I kept getting mad at the book and yelling in my head stop calling them “clones” and “spares” they are people. It’s not fault what other people have done to them. They are just trying to learn how to be human and are not finding any good examples from the people in society. Ugh it just made me feel for her.
I continued to love the plot and it’s flawless transition from one book to the next. If you read the books back to back it flows from one to the other easily. Things are explained again but mostly when you need to be reminded and it’s not over done. I feel like that’s a pitfall sometimes of second books, the info dump summary. Which can get boring if you still remember the previous book. I also really love how this book is the aftermath of winning the war. Most series end with the victory but you don’t know how they rebuilt or if they rebuilt. This book is how you can do something good but end up with bad results. It doesn’t changed that what you did was the right thing but it definitely shows that it’s not necessarily all sunshine, rainbows and lollipops after.
I figured I would like the Linked series being a sci-fi fanatic and all but I really loved these books. I thought the plot was great and unique. I bonded with the characters and not just the main ones. I loved the romance that was involved. Plus just how the first and second books fit together and felt like they flowed one right into the next. It’s one for the shelves.
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