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The Blue-Eyed General
** Upcoming YA Novel!! Check out the first 8 chapters for free at www.theblueeyedgeneral.co.uk **
Jed’s dead. These are the words that transform seventeen year old Cecelia Rivermire’s quiet life into a manhunt. A manhunt to kill the man that murdered her only friend. A manhunt to kill the man that murdered her first love. In this quest for revenge, however, she’ll soon discover that everything she’s ever known has been a lie, including everything she thinks she knows about herself…
Set in a world where a dictator’s word is gospel, rebellion looms, and science and superstition collide with devastating consequences, The Blue-Eyed General follows Cecelia as she strives for her vengeance. Though the man she hunts is an extremely illusive figure, and she finds herself hunted by her own tyrannical Emperor, she’s confident that taking her revenge should be easy. After all, she’s no ordinary girl. With incredible strength, speed, and otherworldly blue eyes, she’s a beautiful enigma; but none of that can protect her from the terrifying places that her journey will take her to, and nothing on Gaia can prepare her for the horrible truths that she’ll learn about herself. By the time she’s done, Cecelia will wish that she’d left the past undisturbed.
With tensions and treason, madness and murder, romance and revelation, for the blue-eyed general, revenge really is only the beginning…
Jed’s dead. These are the words that transform seventeen year old Cecelia Rivermire’s quiet life into a manhunt. A manhunt to kill the man that murdered her only friend. A manhunt to kill the man that murdered her first love. In this quest for revenge, however, she’ll soon discover that everything she’s ever known has been a lie, including everything she thinks she knows about herself…
Set in a world where a dictator’s word is gospel, rebellion looms, and science and superstition collide with devastating consequences, The Blue-Eyed General follows Cecelia as she strives for her vengeance. Though the man she hunts is an extremely illusive figure, and she finds herself hunted by her own tyrannical Emperor, she’s confident that taking her revenge should be easy. After all, she’s no ordinary girl. With incredible strength, speed, and otherworldly blue eyes, she’s a beautiful enigma; but none of that can protect her from the terrifying places that her journey will take her to, and nothing on Gaia can prepare her for the horrible truths that she’ll learn about herself. By the time she’s done, Cecelia will wish that she’d left the past undisturbed.
With tensions and treason, madness and murder, romance and revelation, for the blue-eyed general, revenge really is only the beginning…
Unknown Binding
First published October 23, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
July 16, 2013
Well it's my book, so I kinda have to love it! Haha!
September 21, 2013
First of all, I get to write the first Review....YES!! :D
You can also read this review on my blog here:http://theoutrageousjourney.weebly.co...
I received a free ARC of this book in exchange of an honest review. The Blue-Eyed General is a debut YA Novel written by Rebecca Inman. The plot revolves about a 12 years old girl who finds out that her only friend, and probably her first love is dead. But when she decided to leave her family and go on a manhunt for revenge, things don't according to plan.
Things are then fast forward 5 years later where we find her as a General, with flashbacks on what happened to her since she left home for revenge . At first, I thought that maybe the author should have divided these flashbacks in Now and Then chapters to prevent confusion, but I then I realized that what she did is absolutely perfect cause it puts you in the B-E General's(Cecelia) shoes , who sometimes get lost between the two timelines.
When the Emperor turns against his B-E General, Cecelia is set on a journey and discovers the true history of the system she has served for 5 years.
The Secondary charcaters are well developed and you can put yourself in their shoes and even sympathize with some of them, even those whom you dislike! P.S: Keep an eye on Brey;he is one of my favorite characters. He is funky,funny, full of energy and you will love him more and more while reading the book
There was also a time when the characters spoke in a terriable grammar, but then, this is not the case with all characters and it also implies their lack of education.
The writing was beautiful and very descriptive , yet not perfect. A few typos here and there,but what book does not have these?
The author definitely trapped me in this World , which is filled with secrets and amazing characters. This is a #BookFlipper :D and I discovered that it has a book Sequel, which was something that I did not realize till the end of the book. The ending left me craving for book 2, while book 1 isn't published yet!! I give it 5 stars out of 5 stars ! The book is coming out soon; here is the author's website www.theblueeyedgeneral.co.uk . Check it out and grab a copy when it is released !
You can also read this review on my blog here:http://theoutrageousjourney.weebly.co...
I received a free ARC of this book in exchange of an honest review. The Blue-Eyed General is a debut YA Novel written by Rebecca Inman. The plot revolves about a 12 years old girl who finds out that her only friend, and probably her first love is dead. But when she decided to leave her family and go on a manhunt for revenge, things don't according to plan.
Things are then fast forward 5 years later where we find her as a General, with flashbacks on what happened to her since she left home for revenge . At first, I thought that maybe the author should have divided these flashbacks in Now and Then chapters to prevent confusion, but I then I realized that what she did is absolutely perfect cause it puts you in the B-E General's(Cecelia) shoes , who sometimes get lost between the two timelines.
When the Emperor turns against his B-E General, Cecelia is set on a journey and discovers the true history of the system she has served for 5 years.
The Secondary charcaters are well developed and you can put yourself in their shoes and even sympathize with some of them, even those whom you dislike! P.S: Keep an eye on Brey;he is one of my favorite characters. He is funky,funny, full of energy and you will love him more and more while reading the book
There was also a time when the characters spoke in a terriable grammar, but then, this is not the case with all characters and it also implies their lack of education.
The writing was beautiful and very descriptive , yet not perfect. A few typos here and there,but what book does not have these?
The author definitely trapped me in this World , which is filled with secrets and amazing characters. This is a #BookFlipper :D and I discovered that it has a book Sequel, which was something that I did not realize till the end of the book. The ending left me craving for book 2, while book 1 isn't published yet!! I give it 5 stars out of 5 stars ! The book is coming out soon; here is the author's website www.theblueeyedgeneral.co.uk . Check it out and grab a copy when it is released !
October 11, 2013
posted originally on booksdeelight.blogspot.com
WARNING!!! ***SPOILER ALERT***
(Rating: 5 of 5 stars)
*Book One of a trilogy*
How do I start? Well, I was given the privilege to an ARC, but before that I have already had the chance to read the first eight chapters like everyone else who has been given the link. To be honest, the title got to me the first time… because I am really partial to the colour blue. Uh huh… It sure is my favourite colour. So I went to read and man, I didn’t know what first to expect or what to make of it when I got to the prologue. I just knew it was a promising story. I instantly liked Tieve, that feisty 12 year old girl who’s charming yet stubborn and Jed, who seems to be her only friend in the world. As early as it is in the story, I felt it in my bones that these two could be something. I immediately thought that I want them to be together. Yeah, I ship them! *claps & giggles* I do!
“I love you Tieve Kedgewater,” he says, looking down on me, still sat half stunned and half in the sea. “And even if we never see each other again, I’m always going to love you.”
But, parting is indeed such a sweet sorrow… so, believe me when I say, I cried with Tieve the night they told her Jed…her Jed, is dead. Man, I can say the author did broke my heart at this point but as a bookie would always hope in her heart of hearts…I firmly convinced myself that Jed is not dead. He might still be alive. (Yep, I was making my own plots & twists) Who knows, I could be right, right?
In Gaia, as the world is known in this story, the place is ruled by an Emperor, a rather selfish and oppressing tyrant who rules from the Diamond City and dominates the Empiric state that’s composed of the Crystal Cities govern by eleven Lords respectively. Selfish enough to obtain massive amounts of Rythium (a rare mineral, luminous blue in colour, discovered by the Empiric State a hundred years ago) that basically acts as the main power source for all there is in the world. A mineral that is dangerous as it is precious, corrosive as it is powerful – the key to a legend that can allegedly create a bridge to Utopia, the world of the Dead.
Revenge is indeed, only the beginning....
Needless to say, I find the author’s imagination and creativity really impressive. Delving deep into the story, I found myself hooked and submerged into the world of The Blue-Eyed General. I love the intrigue, the action packed scenes, and the whole plot the story is revolving around. Thinking that her best friend is already dead shortly after joining the Elite army, young Tieve ran away on a night and started her journey to the Diamond City with only one purpose in mind. REVENGE. She wanted to avenge Jed’s death that she so blatantly blames on Caleb – the infamous founder of the Elite Army whose purpose is to oppose and bring down the Emperor’s cruel reign. And that, she could do by joining the Empiric state’s army who is intent on crushing any one who dares to question the rule of Emperor Litek, a.k.a the Elite Army under Caleb’s command.
With 12 year old Tieve Kedgewater running away from their small coastal town of Aaquna (Oh yes, I do love the names of the places & characters. Yeah, no one better argue with me on that.), finding her way through hardships and eventually falling under the care of the Emperor after reaching the Diamond City, the real story is just about to start.
Now, I kind of had a problem in here…like how in Utopia can a twelve year old girl survive hunger, fatigue and predator attacks in the Firdawn Forest, on her own? Well, she’s brave and all but physically, how did she manage to kick down on their asses full grown men? Soldiers at that? I thought it’s just unrealistic and just doesn’t add up. But wait, there’s more!
Hmmmmm…I thought she was superhuman or something…I even thought of magic, but no. She’s just destined to become:
General Cecelia Rivermire
- 3rd of the 5 Generals of the Litekian Empire Guard Squad
- Commander of Division Two
- Wielder of Scheherazade the Quick (1 of 5 legendary weapons)
- Became a General at the young age of seventeen
- Blonde haired, Blue-Eyed beauty
- Beautiful and lethal as she is ruthless
I really love what our heroine has turned out to be. Claiming a new identity and keeping her true self from the citizens of the Diamond City, making a name for herself for her incredible strength, ruthlessness in the battlefield and of course of her peculiar blonde hair-blue eyed beauty. I felt for her in every step of her journey, when she was accused a traitor to the state; a renowned general who fell from grace; down to her escape from the dungeons and General Valoel’s fondness and caring for her is indeed very endearing. And there came Brey, her rescuer, from a group of thieves working against the empire and leaning towards the Elite. And boy, did I sense a possible love interest. Brey’s a good character, his jolly, carefree, annoyingly charming persona almost reminds me of Puck. But no, my love-junkie heart still screams for Jed. However annoying and provoking he might get at times, I can say that Cici our heroine could passably like this new guy character, what with Jed only a memory… or so I thought.
The blue-eyed ex-general turned fugitive is now in league with a band of thieves smuggling rythium powered weapons for Elite, and yes, my interest went up a notch higher at this. I can smell a twist. An adventure towards the greater part of the story. And voila! Cici learns so many things about the Empire she had loyally served for 5 years. With the help of Cassillas – Lord of Albehlia, who happens to be the benefactor of Brey’s little thieving group she came to realize how brainwashed she had been, not really seeing the bigger picture and not knowing the real situation of the world (with poverty and savagery among citizens) outside the Diamond and Crystal cities known as the Warren. She then encounters Caleb. Curses! He’s quite a character that kept me so intrigued. Blonde haired-blue eyed, he could almost be our heroine’s brother but stronger and faster, except he’s kind of mad.
Reading into Cecelia’s attempt to kill Caleb to finally avenge Jed’s death, I was so carried away that I wish I have my own Scheherazade to summon. But man, was I frustrated when Caleb proved to be a very prominent semi-villain dude. He spoke of things that really rocked our blue-eyed general’s world. The Utopia Project for one, and the rationale for their beauty, strength, speed and peculiarness for they are so much alike. Finally, my earlier questions are about to get answered in this part of the story. Hah, I have no doubt that our heroine is special but I want to know how brilliantly brilliant our dear author is. J Curses! Secrets and intrigues are spilled and spewed incredibly. I was wowed, I couldn’t stop reading. This mysterious scientist/physician Derado guy who gives our heroine the creeps is the master key to all closets of secrets after all. Well, we can call it pods of secrets too, trust me. And so, after all the mystery has been explained, our blue-eyed general finally knew who she is, not entirely Tieve Kedgewater, not entirely Cecelia Rivermire but a little of the supposed-to-be-dead Sophia Litek. The revelations just won’t stop right here and I tell you I wanted to know how puny, sickly little Jenson would squeak and how infuriating & maddening devil Devin would scream out the impossibility that dearest Sophia Litek, daughter of the late Emperor is very much alive. Jenson and Devin irk me to the max. *gritting my teeth*
All these revealed after Cecelia couldn’t quench her thirst for curiosity and finds her way to Azgirth – the place Caleb claims to be where, they (Cecelia & Caleb), among hundreds were experimented with rythium to be the beings born of both woman and blue diamond in the old old legend. That explains our heroine’s almost inhuman abilities: strength, speed, faster healing, beautiful skin that doesn’t scar, and rythium-perks - white blonde air and bright blue eyes. (curses! Wouldn’t anyone, as in anyone love those?! Well…I do love those IF I can survive the process, that is.). The last fight scene between Caleb and Cecelia is the shocker of all shockers in this book. And I got really worked up when I thought Brey is going to die – not when I told myself “okay, He would have to be Cici’s love dude”. And Caleb is just utterly out of his mind, so intent to kill our heroine. (Yes, I did pray that Derado would come bursting the door and save the day, but that can’t be because it would ruin the scene. Haha) Oh no, Oh no…Cecelia can’t die! Of course, it’s just the first book! But well, bombs were dropped mercilessly and I was like “wow, just wow…really? I hadn’t thought of that! Wicked!” But wait! There’s more! Uh no… there’s just only one more, actually.
**pauses dramatically**
JED IS ALIVE.
The infamous new Elite general for the last 5 years or so when Caleb went AWOL, the famed protégeé’ of Caleb is none other than Jed. (So imagine me reading the last page with a goofy grin. I was right, right? The feels!)
All in all, I can only give praise to this wonderful and really promising YA work of fiction. If I ever thought that its story is similar to one of those already published, I was wrong. It’s well-made and well thought of. I love the choice of words; the names of characters and places, so apt when you close your eyes and imagine; the plots and twists; the setting which for me, resembles a mix of the old and the new; the idea of rythium itself is not so new but is very reviving & unique; the action, terror, suspense; the badassness of the heroine; a little sprinkle of romance, which I hope will take up a notch in the succeeding books; the intrigue and basically everything about this book I truly truly love and enjoyed. Sorry that I couldn’t seem to pinpoint a flaw here and there because it just doesn’t really matter to me. I was entertained, I found a whole new world to delve into, and really, I just can’t think of readers not liking this book. I would surely secure a copy of the printed material when it comes out in a couple of weeks and I would definitely recommend this to readers! Curses and all! ;)
Kudos Ms. Rebecca Inman! I would be one of your number one fans. That in Utopia, is for sure!
Thank you!
WARNING!!! ***SPOILER ALERT***
(Rating: 5 of 5 stars)
*Book One of a trilogy*
How do I start? Well, I was given the privilege to an ARC, but before that I have already had the chance to read the first eight chapters like everyone else who has been given the link. To be honest, the title got to me the first time… because I am really partial to the colour blue. Uh huh… It sure is my favourite colour. So I went to read and man, I didn’t know what first to expect or what to make of it when I got to the prologue. I just knew it was a promising story. I instantly liked Tieve, that feisty 12 year old girl who’s charming yet stubborn and Jed, who seems to be her only friend in the world. As early as it is in the story, I felt it in my bones that these two could be something. I immediately thought that I want them to be together. Yeah, I ship them! *claps & giggles* I do!
“I love you Tieve Kedgewater,” he says, looking down on me, still sat half stunned and half in the sea. “And even if we never see each other again, I’m always going to love you.”
But, parting is indeed such a sweet sorrow… so, believe me when I say, I cried with Tieve the night they told her Jed…her Jed, is dead. Man, I can say the author did broke my heart at this point but as a bookie would always hope in her heart of hearts…I firmly convinced myself that Jed is not dead. He might still be alive. (Yep, I was making my own plots & twists) Who knows, I could be right, right?
In Gaia, as the world is known in this story, the place is ruled by an Emperor, a rather selfish and oppressing tyrant who rules from the Diamond City and dominates the Empiric state that’s composed of the Crystal Cities govern by eleven Lords respectively. Selfish enough to obtain massive amounts of Rythium (a rare mineral, luminous blue in colour, discovered by the Empiric State a hundred years ago) that basically acts as the main power source for all there is in the world. A mineral that is dangerous as it is precious, corrosive as it is powerful – the key to a legend that can allegedly create a bridge to Utopia, the world of the Dead.
Revenge is indeed, only the beginning....
Needless to say, I find the author’s imagination and creativity really impressive. Delving deep into the story, I found myself hooked and submerged into the world of The Blue-Eyed General. I love the intrigue, the action packed scenes, and the whole plot the story is revolving around. Thinking that her best friend is already dead shortly after joining the Elite army, young Tieve ran away on a night and started her journey to the Diamond City with only one purpose in mind. REVENGE. She wanted to avenge Jed’s death that she so blatantly blames on Caleb – the infamous founder of the Elite Army whose purpose is to oppose and bring down the Emperor’s cruel reign. And that, she could do by joining the Empiric state’s army who is intent on crushing any one who dares to question the rule of Emperor Litek, a.k.a the Elite Army under Caleb’s command.
With 12 year old Tieve Kedgewater running away from their small coastal town of Aaquna (Oh yes, I do love the names of the places & characters. Yeah, no one better argue with me on that.), finding her way through hardships and eventually falling under the care of the Emperor after reaching the Diamond City, the real story is just about to start.
Now, I kind of had a problem in here…like how in Utopia can a twelve year old girl survive hunger, fatigue and predator attacks in the Firdawn Forest, on her own? Well, she’s brave and all but physically, how did she manage to kick down on their asses full grown men? Soldiers at that? I thought it’s just unrealistic and just doesn’t add up. But wait, there’s more!
Hmmmmm…I thought she was superhuman or something…I even thought of magic, but no. She’s just destined to become:
General Cecelia Rivermire
- 3rd of the 5 Generals of the Litekian Empire Guard Squad
- Commander of Division Two
- Wielder of Scheherazade the Quick (1 of 5 legendary weapons)
- Became a General at the young age of seventeen
- Blonde haired, Blue-Eyed beauty
- Beautiful and lethal as she is ruthless
I really love what our heroine has turned out to be. Claiming a new identity and keeping her true self from the citizens of the Diamond City, making a name for herself for her incredible strength, ruthlessness in the battlefield and of course of her peculiar blonde hair-blue eyed beauty. I felt for her in every step of her journey, when she was accused a traitor to the state; a renowned general who fell from grace; down to her escape from the dungeons and General Valoel’s fondness and caring for her is indeed very endearing. And there came Brey, her rescuer, from a group of thieves working against the empire and leaning towards the Elite. And boy, did I sense a possible love interest. Brey’s a good character, his jolly, carefree, annoyingly charming persona almost reminds me of Puck. But no, my love-junkie heart still screams for Jed. However annoying and provoking he might get at times, I can say that Cici our heroine could passably like this new guy character, what with Jed only a memory… or so I thought.
The blue-eyed ex-general turned fugitive is now in league with a band of thieves smuggling rythium powered weapons for Elite, and yes, my interest went up a notch higher at this. I can smell a twist. An adventure towards the greater part of the story. And voila! Cici learns so many things about the Empire she had loyally served for 5 years. With the help of Cassillas – Lord of Albehlia, who happens to be the benefactor of Brey’s little thieving group she came to realize how brainwashed she had been, not really seeing the bigger picture and not knowing the real situation of the world (with poverty and savagery among citizens) outside the Diamond and Crystal cities known as the Warren. She then encounters Caleb. Curses! He’s quite a character that kept me so intrigued. Blonde haired-blue eyed, he could almost be our heroine’s brother but stronger and faster, except he’s kind of mad.
Reading into Cecelia’s attempt to kill Caleb to finally avenge Jed’s death, I was so carried away that I wish I have my own Scheherazade to summon. But man, was I frustrated when Caleb proved to be a very prominent semi-villain dude. He spoke of things that really rocked our blue-eyed general’s world. The Utopia Project for one, and the rationale for their beauty, strength, speed and peculiarness for they are so much alike. Finally, my earlier questions are about to get answered in this part of the story. Hah, I have no doubt that our heroine is special but I want to know how brilliantly brilliant our dear author is. J Curses! Secrets and intrigues are spilled and spewed incredibly. I was wowed, I couldn’t stop reading. This mysterious scientist/physician Derado guy who gives our heroine the creeps is the master key to all closets of secrets after all. Well, we can call it pods of secrets too, trust me. And so, after all the mystery has been explained, our blue-eyed general finally knew who she is, not entirely Tieve Kedgewater, not entirely Cecelia Rivermire but a little of the supposed-to-be-dead Sophia Litek. The revelations just won’t stop right here and I tell you I wanted to know how puny, sickly little Jenson would squeak and how infuriating & maddening devil Devin would scream out the impossibility that dearest Sophia Litek, daughter of the late Emperor is very much alive. Jenson and Devin irk me to the max. *gritting my teeth*
All these revealed after Cecelia couldn’t quench her thirst for curiosity and finds her way to Azgirth – the place Caleb claims to be where, they (Cecelia & Caleb), among hundreds were experimented with rythium to be the beings born of both woman and blue diamond in the old old legend. That explains our heroine’s almost inhuman abilities: strength, speed, faster healing, beautiful skin that doesn’t scar, and rythium-perks - white blonde air and bright blue eyes. (curses! Wouldn’t anyone, as in anyone love those?! Well…I do love those IF I can survive the process, that is.). The last fight scene between Caleb and Cecelia is the shocker of all shockers in this book. And I got really worked up when I thought Brey is going to die – not when I told myself “okay, He would have to be Cici’s love dude”. And Caleb is just utterly out of his mind, so intent to kill our heroine. (Yes, I did pray that Derado would come bursting the door and save the day, but that can’t be because it would ruin the scene. Haha) Oh no, Oh no…Cecelia can’t die! Of course, it’s just the first book! But well, bombs were dropped mercilessly and I was like “wow, just wow…really? I hadn’t thought of that! Wicked!” But wait! There’s more! Uh no… there’s just only one more, actually.
**pauses dramatically**
JED IS ALIVE.
The infamous new Elite general for the last 5 years or so when Caleb went AWOL, the famed protégeé’ of Caleb is none other than Jed. (So imagine me reading the last page with a goofy grin. I was right, right? The feels!)
All in all, I can only give praise to this wonderful and really promising YA work of fiction. If I ever thought that its story is similar to one of those already published, I was wrong. It’s well-made and well thought of. I love the choice of words; the names of characters and places, so apt when you close your eyes and imagine; the plots and twists; the setting which for me, resembles a mix of the old and the new; the idea of rythium itself is not so new but is very reviving & unique; the action, terror, suspense; the badassness of the heroine; a little sprinkle of romance, which I hope will take up a notch in the succeeding books; the intrigue and basically everything about this book I truly truly love and enjoyed. Sorry that I couldn’t seem to pinpoint a flaw here and there because it just doesn’t really matter to me. I was entertained, I found a whole new world to delve into, and really, I just can’t think of readers not liking this book. I would surely secure a copy of the printed material when it comes out in a couple of weeks and I would definitely recommend this to readers! Curses and all! ;)
Kudos Ms. Rebecca Inman! I would be one of your number one fans. That in Utopia, is for sure!
Thank you!
November 17, 2013
First of all I would just like to thank Rebecca Inman for letting me read her book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The Blue-Eyed General made me speechless, it was one of the most epic books I have ever read. This is not your average young adult book, with your stupid love triangle in the center, no this book is the real deal. I just have to say that Rebecca Inman is a genius, this is her debut novel and she definitely shows us how an amazing novel is supposed to be. This book is about revenge, family and so much more. Cecilia is determined to avenge her childhood friend, Jed, and will do everything it takes to do so. The Blue-Eyed General has a way of capturing everything you could ever love in a novel and there is literally nothing missing in the it.
The characters in The Blue-Eyed General are brilliant, or actually beyond brilliant. We have Cecilia, she goes under a few other names during the novel but you have to read it to find out what I mean, who is badass and aggressive but at the same time vulnerable which makes you realize that she truly is only human. Sure at times Cecilia makes you want to hit her in the head because of how oblivious she is about other people and their and her feelings, but you cannot hate her for it because it is a part of who she is. Then we have Brey who is the funniest, sexiest, cutest and most epic character ever created in this world. I mean he is my sweetheart after all if you know what I am saying (this is a pun aka you will get it if you read the book). We also have Caleb, Derado and Litek who are all in their own way perfect villains, though not always at the same time, in the novel.
Rebecca Inman manages to have multiple plot twists in her book, never making it a dull moment, and the twists are mind blowing. I was freaking out the last 100 pages of the book, especially with that ending. I have to say I knew it, still it was an oh my god moment! The only slightly negative thing I can say about this book is the beginning which was a little slow only due to the fact that a lot of new terms were introduced.
Never mind that, I can proudly say that The Blue-Eyed General showed me how freaking amazing a book can be. After reading average books for a long time this just felt so fresh and new. It is definitely one of my top three favorite books. I give The Blue-Eyed General 6 out of 5 star, and if you love fantasy and dystopian then THIS BOOK IS FOR YOU! I seriously recommend this book to everyone.
Review also on mywordstoplaywith.
The Blue-Eyed General made me speechless, it was one of the most epic books I have ever read. This is not your average young adult book, with your stupid love triangle in the center, no this book is the real deal. I just have to say that Rebecca Inman is a genius, this is her debut novel and she definitely shows us how an amazing novel is supposed to be. This book is about revenge, family and so much more. Cecilia is determined to avenge her childhood friend, Jed, and will do everything it takes to do so. The Blue-Eyed General has a way of capturing everything you could ever love in a novel and there is literally nothing missing in the it.
The characters in The Blue-Eyed General are brilliant, or actually beyond brilliant. We have Cecilia, she goes under a few other names during the novel but you have to read it to find out what I mean, who is badass and aggressive but at the same time vulnerable which makes you realize that she truly is only human. Sure at times Cecilia makes you want to hit her in the head because of how oblivious she is about other people and their and her feelings, but you cannot hate her for it because it is a part of who she is. Then we have Brey who is the funniest, sexiest, cutest and most epic character ever created in this world. I mean he is my sweetheart after all if you know what I am saying (this is a pun aka you will get it if you read the book). We also have Caleb, Derado and Litek who are all in their own way perfect villains, though not always at the same time, in the novel.
Rebecca Inman manages to have multiple plot twists in her book, never making it a dull moment, and the twists are mind blowing. I was freaking out the last 100 pages of the book, especially with that ending. I have to say I knew it, still it was an oh my god moment! The only slightly negative thing I can say about this book is the beginning which was a little slow only due to the fact that a lot of new terms were introduced.
Never mind that, I can proudly say that The Blue-Eyed General showed me how freaking amazing a book can be. After reading average books for a long time this just felt so fresh and new. It is definitely one of my top three favorite books. I give The Blue-Eyed General 6 out of 5 star, and if you love fantasy and dystopian then THIS BOOK IS FOR YOU! I seriously recommend this book to everyone.
Review also on mywordstoplaywith.
October 24, 2013
This was right down my line, a YA Dystopian with some science fiction elements, lots of action and a touch of romance.
Cecelia is a beautiful, head-strong, no funny business guy. . .uh, I mean gal. She's a general in the Emperor's army, a position she earned and has no trouble maintaining in the otherwise male leadership. I say guy because she demonstrates very few feminine attributes--an amazing soldier through and through. And she's on a mission of revenge. She will stop at nothing to kill the head of the rebels, the Elites (which just happens to be the Emperor's greatest enemy), to revenge her childhood friend's death.
It took me a few pages to get into this story, but once I did, I couldn't put it down. Did I like Cecelia? I'm wasn't sure until the end. Most of the story, she's a tough character to like. To say she doesn't have a soft heart is an understatement. Her decisions aren't always right, and her reactions to situations are often selfish and cold. She's got a wall built around her, one that not only her fellow characters have trouble getting through, but me too. By the end of the book, it becomes clear why she is the way she is, and then all is forgiven. But I still would have liked to see one or two more redeeming qualities because there were times she simply turned me off. Notice, however, I kept reading. Why? Because despite these moments, the story is really good.
I found myself completely involved in the pages and didn't want to lay the book down. There's intrigue, horrid bad guys, creepy men which make the skin crawl, amazing fight scenes and comrades that I myself would be willing to die for myself. The story twists and turns, and the players turn with it, so that it's often not clear who the real threat is, was, or will be.
Of course, there's a prophecy, but it's a hazy one--which is a plus! I love it when a 'savior' isn't bluntly laid out and the meaning of a prophecy isn't clear. In fact, there's reason to doubt that the myth holds any truth at all. Some characters strongly believe in it, but they may be completely off their rocker. It is clear that there is something special about Cecelia, Caleb and the rest of the blue-eyed humans. I found it a little irritating that Cecelia continued to question the connection, although it was clearly hinted several times that there was one. Not that these hints spoil the end for the reader. Nope, the ending 'truth' is much more complex and surprising than I suspected.
All in all, this is a great read and very different from many YA's with female main characters. I couldn't help but think during the first chapters, 'Hey, this thing is written for guys too - awesome!' Romance - yes. Over-powering - no. The plot moves fast; the action and fight scenes had me sitting on the edge of my seat. And the ending has me begging for more.
Yes, Rebecca Inman has a new fan.
Cecelia is a beautiful, head-strong, no funny business guy. . .uh, I mean gal. She's a general in the Emperor's army, a position she earned and has no trouble maintaining in the otherwise male leadership. I say guy because she demonstrates very few feminine attributes--an amazing soldier through and through. And she's on a mission of revenge. She will stop at nothing to kill the head of the rebels, the Elites (which just happens to be the Emperor's greatest enemy), to revenge her childhood friend's death.
It took me a few pages to get into this story, but once I did, I couldn't put it down. Did I like Cecelia? I'm wasn't sure until the end. Most of the story, she's a tough character to like. To say she doesn't have a soft heart is an understatement. Her decisions aren't always right, and her reactions to situations are often selfish and cold. She's got a wall built around her, one that not only her fellow characters have trouble getting through, but me too. By the end of the book, it becomes clear why she is the way she is, and then all is forgiven. But I still would have liked to see one or two more redeeming qualities because there were times she simply turned me off. Notice, however, I kept reading. Why? Because despite these moments, the story is really good.
I found myself completely involved in the pages and didn't want to lay the book down. There's intrigue, horrid bad guys, creepy men which make the skin crawl, amazing fight scenes and comrades that I myself would be willing to die for myself. The story twists and turns, and the players turn with it, so that it's often not clear who the real threat is, was, or will be.
Of course, there's a prophecy, but it's a hazy one--which is a plus! I love it when a 'savior' isn't bluntly laid out and the meaning of a prophecy isn't clear. In fact, there's reason to doubt that the myth holds any truth at all. Some characters strongly believe in it, but they may be completely off their rocker. It is clear that there is something special about Cecelia, Caleb and the rest of the blue-eyed humans. I found it a little irritating that Cecelia continued to question the connection, although it was clearly hinted several times that there was one. Not that these hints spoil the end for the reader. Nope, the ending 'truth' is much more complex and surprising than I suspected.
All in all, this is a great read and very different from many YA's with female main characters. I couldn't help but think during the first chapters, 'Hey, this thing is written for guys too - awesome!' Romance - yes. Over-powering - no. The plot moves fast; the action and fight scenes had me sitting on the edge of my seat. And the ending has me begging for more.
Yes, Rebecca Inman has a new fan.
October 23, 2013
Istyria book blog - B's world of enchanted books
*I received an ARC copy from the author for review. Thanks!*
3.5 stars
Although this book started out as just okay for me, it ended up being pretty great! And I'm very glad about that because the author was so nice to give me an ARC copy and she's just awesome. So yeah, I'd say this is a great debut novel with another kick-ass heroine.
The Blue-Eyed General is about seventeen year old Cecelia. When she hears her only friend is killed, she's determined to hunt down the man that killed her only friend and first love. In her search for revenge, she soon discovers that everything she knows is a lie, including everything she knows about herself.
The story itself is cool. I knew that when I read the blurb. Cecelia is a likable character and she can kick some serious ass if she needs too. The writing is pretty good even though I was easily distracted. The only thing that bothered me was the overuse of exclamation marks. Of course there's the romance and I liked that one too. But unless I read it wrong, Cecelia is twelve in the prologue, how can she call someone the love of her life? She's barely even lived. Maybe it's different in that world, I don't know. That's what made the book just okay in the beginning. It's when Cecelia becomes this kick-ass girl with a sword and stuff that it gets really good.
Like I said, Cecelia is a likable character. She's pretty awesome, although maybe not that relatable for me personally. The world-building in this book was also good and I liked all the other characters too. I'd say Rebecca has done a great job on her debut novel and I'm curious to read what happens next.
*I received an ARC copy from the author for review. Thanks!*
3.5 stars
Although this book started out as just okay for me, it ended up being pretty great! And I'm very glad about that because the author was so nice to give me an ARC copy and she's just awesome. So yeah, I'd say this is a great debut novel with another kick-ass heroine.
The Blue-Eyed General is about seventeen year old Cecelia. When she hears her only friend is killed, she's determined to hunt down the man that killed her only friend and first love. In her search for revenge, she soon discovers that everything she knows is a lie, including everything she knows about herself.
The story itself is cool. I knew that when I read the blurb. Cecelia is a likable character and she can kick some serious ass if she needs too. The writing is pretty good even though I was easily distracted. The only thing that bothered me was the overuse of exclamation marks. Of course there's the romance and I liked that one too. But unless I read it wrong, Cecelia is twelve in the prologue, how can she call someone the love of her life? She's barely even lived. Maybe it's different in that world, I don't know. That's what made the book just okay in the beginning. It's when Cecelia becomes this kick-ass girl with a sword and stuff that it gets really good.
Like I said, Cecelia is a likable character. She's pretty awesome, although maybe not that relatable for me personally. The world-building in this book was also good and I liked all the other characters too. I'd say Rebecca has done a great job on her debut novel and I'm curious to read what happens next.
July 26, 2016
3.5 or 4 stars.
Thanks to the author for giving me this ARC to read in exchange for an review.
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Looking at the cover for The Blue-Eyed General by Rebecca Inman I don’t think it’s a book I’d have been drawn to by myself. I favor contemporary and paranormal a lot. And while I do read quite a bit of dystopian and fantasy this book is different from what I’m used to. Different, though, can be good.
The entire world and plot of The Blue-Eyed General is so different from other books I’ve read. It may be because this book is somewhat out of my range, but it’s a concept I’ve never heard of in this way. There’s nothing really new, but the way everything is brought to the table makes the story intriguing all the same. It’s a classic story of revenge, but revenge isn’t the only topic and, in fact, it sometimes takes a seat on the backburner.
Keeping on with the subject, I think it’s important to tell you that, for the most part, I don’t really get surprised while reading stories. I’m pretty good at guessing what’s going to happen. Inman kind of shocked the hell out of me near the end of her novel. There was a twist I felt like I should have anticipated but I know I never would have. It was so subtly setup that it never crossed my mind seriously. Like, I was straight up flabbergasted. Yes, you heard me. Flabbergasted. Which is good, because I did end up guessing a different part correctly. No matter. 1) I wanted what happened to happen. 2) What happens now ? I have no idea.
I’m very impressed by The Blue-Eyed General. From the moment I started reading the sample of this novel I knew I had to ask for a full copy. I had a ton of fun reading it and can’t wait for the sequel. This is definitely one to give a shot.
Thanks to the author for giving me this ARC to read in exchange for an review.
-----
Looking at the cover for The Blue-Eyed General by Rebecca Inman I don’t think it’s a book I’d have been drawn to by myself. I favor contemporary and paranormal a lot. And while I do read quite a bit of dystopian and fantasy this book is different from what I’m used to. Different, though, can be good.
The entire world and plot of The Blue-Eyed General is so different from other books I’ve read. It may be because this book is somewhat out of my range, but it’s a concept I’ve never heard of in this way. There’s nothing really new, but the way everything is brought to the table makes the story intriguing all the same. It’s a classic story of revenge, but revenge isn’t the only topic and, in fact, it sometimes takes a seat on the backburner.
Keeping on with the subject, I think it’s important to tell you that, for the most part, I don’t really get surprised while reading stories. I’m pretty good at guessing what’s going to happen. Inman kind of shocked the hell out of me near the end of her novel. There was a twist I felt like I should have anticipated but I know I never would have. It was so subtly setup that it never crossed my mind seriously. Like, I was straight up flabbergasted. Yes, you heard me. Flabbergasted. Which is good, because I did end up guessing a different part correctly. No matter. 1) I wanted what happened to happen. 2) What happens now ? I have no idea.
I’m very impressed by The Blue-Eyed General. From the moment I started reading the sample of this novel I knew I had to ask for a full copy. I had a ton of fun reading it and can’t wait for the sequel. This is definitely one to give a shot.
December 5, 2015
Wow! What a great debut novel!!
The Blue-Eyed General follows the story of Cecelia, who is on the hunt to find the man who killed her only friend/first love. She thinks revenge will be easy, but will learn soon enough, that things are never as they seem...........
Cecilia herself is anything but ordinary. She has incredible strength, and speed. But nothing can prepare her for the journey she will go on, or what she will learn about herself.
This book had a lot of action, great twists, romance and suspense and kept me on edge right up to the end! I love a good cliffhanger and I can't wait to see what's going to happen next!
I thought the characters were great and I really liked the writing style. Again, I thought this was a really great debut novel and I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.
*** I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review***
The Blue-Eyed General follows the story of Cecelia, who is on the hunt to find the man who killed her only friend/first love. She thinks revenge will be easy, but will learn soon enough, that things are never as they seem...........
Cecilia herself is anything but ordinary. She has incredible strength, and speed. But nothing can prepare her for the journey she will go on, or what she will learn about herself.
This book had a lot of action, great twists, romance and suspense and kept me on edge right up to the end! I love a good cliffhanger and I can't wait to see what's going to happen next!
I thought the characters were great and I really liked the writing style. Again, I thought this was a really great debut novel and I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.
*** I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review***
October 24, 2013
This book was more sci-fi then I like to read but I really enjoyed it! I liked that the main character was a strong woman who can do everything on her own, she wasn't needy. There were some other characters along the way that grabbed my attention, and some who annoyed me. But that makes for a good book right?! I look forward to the second book for sure!
February 23, 2016
WTF?! THE ENDING THOUGH! I'm freaking the hell out! WHAT IS GOING ON?! THE SECOND BOOK HAS TO COME OUT NOW IF NOT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO START DYING! No book has ever had this affect on me....
March 19, 2019
The Blue-Eyed General ARC Review
Originally posted on www.readingisasweethaven.blogspot.com
With tensions and treason, madness and murder, romance and revelation, for the blue-eyed general, revenge really is only the beginning…
Final Verdict : 5 of 5 stars !
Originally posted on www.readingisasweethaven.blogspot.com
With tensions and treason, madness and murder, romance and revelation, for the blue-eyed general, revenge really is only the beginning…
So, I was lucky enough to be one of those who were given an ARC copy, thanks to Ms. Rebecca Inman.
Now on with my review, What can I say ?
This book is pretty brilliant for a debut sci-fi, dystopian novel.
It stated with this little girl named Tieve, just a typical tween who's lovestuck with her friend, Jed. Wait did I say typical ? Oh no not typical at all-Tieve Kedgewater is a precious pretty little girl with sparkling, striking and strange blue eyes like as of a bright blue crystal and white-blonde beautiful hair and a flawless pale skin. An unnatural beauty isn't it ?And then there's Jed Rivermire-his sweet and only friend in Aaquna. Basically you can see and sense that young romance is blooming between the two but was suddenly crushed because of the war-driven country they are living in. Jade bid goodbye to Tieve to join the Elite (a force to overthrow the Empiric State ruled by Emperor Litek) and left the young girl broken hearted, imagine how broken hearted the girl were when she knew-or rather overheard that her almost lover Jed is now dead. Here the real story starts. I'll stop narrating here for you to read the whole story yourself.
Now the plot is basically driven by Cecelia's revenge. Who's Cecilia you say ? Go guess. Now, General Cecilia set her only mission in life-to destroy the man who killed her friend with her own hands. I understand how that feel though, even me I would do that myself in the name of revenge. I loved Cecilia-the blue-eyed general, the sweetheart of the public, the young, beautiful yet ruthless protege of the Empiric State from the very beginning. With that beauty and character who wouldn't be drawn to her ? There's badass written all over her and always wear the look of superiority and the mess-with-me-and-ill-end you look. She reminds me so much of June Iparis (Legend by Marie Lu). I could not tell who's more badass of the two, if you'll put them side by side you might as well go and hide because just one look of them will make you go cowering in fear. Cecilia has her mood swings too that sometimes she gets to my nerves. Sometimes she's too stubborn and sarcastic I just want to shut her up. I'm actually all like- “can you not Cecilia !” to “you go Cecilia !” But overall I adore the General, I'd be glad to join her troops if she want me too.
And there's another character I love, Brey. He's the kind of guy who makes things light and easy. He's a very humurous guy too and I love him for his charming jokes and smiles. I'm pretty sure I'm now addicted to his winks now. He's such a Sweetheart. But don't be fooled with my descriptions about him-ever heard of those qoutes which says smiling and laughing is just a way to hide the pain inside ?
One of my favorite characters in this story too is Valoel. I always got teary-eyed when he and Cecilia is in conversation-just how kind of Valoel. And if I love some characters there has got to be the one's who I hate too alright ? I really hated Jenson,Devin and Derado those weird little devils-and Mimi, I don't know if I feel hate or pity for that young girl. But I have a theory of what might happen to her in the next books.And oh I almost forgot-CALEB. I was really really intrigued with Caleb in the beginning. (Ask the author herself) I liked Caleb, I mean I really liked him even if I know he's a villain-an antagonist. But I thought he would be a love interest for Cecilia but I was definitely wrong, they were more than just that. And then I've read the part-that hovercarrier scene in the forest and what he did to Cecilia at the last part, I regreted liking him. I want to end him personally, even if I can't of course-at least I can say I died trying.
The pacing of the story is average-i mean in some I just tear though the pages like a hungry little baby drinking his milk but on some, it was not really slow but not that fast so it's alright.
And about the book cover, The Blue Eyed General has a gorgeous cover ! I simply adore this badass girl-i mean General standing with her sword poised and ready for battle and that blue backgound over looking the cities. I salute the one who made the cover. Good job Sir !
But there's only one thing I hope the editor fixed in this novel because of those (!) exclamation marks. I don't know but when I read them it feels like the exclamation mark is unnecessary in the sentence. I'm pretty sure you can not be raising your voice in the middle of a 2 or 3 sentence conversation. It's like this- “Good Morning. You look nice today!!! Let's go.” Sometimes the tone was messed up because of this matter. But nonetheless, this is just an ARC copy i'm reading so maybe the book was proofread a lot of times before publication right ? So no worries.
One thing I loved the most in this novel are the plot twists. I was just gasping when I read scenes that has a plot twist and it leaves me saying “WOW. I DIDN'T KNOW-I SHOULD'VE KNOWN.” And that single moment where the buried passions came alive(not going to spoil you on this)-I was staring at the screen and tought oh-angels-my-otp-just-did-that ?! And that ending-THAT ENDING left me saying “for Utopia's sake explain to me what just happened-is this book missing twenty pages or what-tell me this doesn't stop here !”
To our very daring author who did her best in writing this novel, thank you so much for writing a tale that was haunting, mysterious and magical. It wasn't like any book I've ever read before. Thank you so much for sharing your world with us. The Blue Eyed General definitely deserves to have a place in my special-awesome shelf and I hope it will get a place on everybody's too.
Final Verdict : 5 of 5 stars !
October 24, 2013
*I received an e-copy in exchange for an honest review.*
The Blue-Eyed General will likely appeal to fans of the sci-fi/fantasy genre, gamers, and manga/anime otaku. For the most part, it's an entertaining read.
If you're looking for a book that is unique, yet has a distinctly Final Fantasy feel, The Blue-Eyed General is a good place to start!
While this book was not 'all that I hoped for a more', it had a relatively compelling plot, a very familiar environment (I grew up with Final Fantasy and I've been reading manga and watching anime for ages), and a lovable protagonist. I do, however, have mixed feelings about, well, pretty much everything.
*Prose*
The prose was *shocking*--in a I'm-not-sure-if-this-is-a-good-thing kind of way. It's tainted with a melodramatic flavor I felt was perhaps too blatant; there are more refined ways of expressing drama, tension, and panic than loading a paragraph with 5-6 exclamation points.
If exclamation points aren't your thing, sorry. The typical paragraph has 3-6 exclamation points. And if there aren't an overwhelming number of exclamation marks, there are loads of question marks. (Or both [?!].)
Because I'm a huge fan of manga/anime/j-drama (and because I'm pretty melodramatic myself lol), the style wasn't horrifically jarring; however, even I had trouble keeping my eyes from rolling, or yelling at the book, or ranting to my husband.
And yet, for all my snarkiness about this strategy...I can't say it doesn't work.
Cecelia/Tieve is extremely immature and rambunctious, and she's easily incited to threaten (or perform) bodily harm. But the prose betrays the General's soft nature. Even after she's filleted people or after she *threatens* to kill people, her internal dialogue belies her anger and attitude.
It's kind of like watching a kitten attempt to catch an evasive piece of string; while the chase is on, the kitten won't stop trying to reach that string, but once the kitten catches it, it's so content its entire demeanor changes.
Yes, I am saying that you could compare Cecelia to a kitten.
Cecelia likes to think of herself as a tough, I-don't-take-crap--ever--kind of person. But the prose doesn't really back this persona up. She's fierce, but her ferocity is usually somewhat silly/melodramatic. Plus, the fact that she's so naive doesn't help her "I'm super tough" case much.
Somehow, it's as if the exclamation point overkill is strangely appropriate...
If The Blue-Eyed General becomes a manga, it will be BRILLIANT.
*Characters*
Cecelia is ridiculously full of herself, and wears erraticism like a second skin, becoming enraged at the slightest offense (and sometimes, non-offense, really, which is even worse). She *attacks* people.
Personally, I don't have a problem with a character who attacks people, especially if they're supposed to be bad-arse or whatever. I mean, Cecelia is a general with super-human strength (hope that's not a spoiler...), so I understand her bouts of anger to a degree. I even understand her desire to assert herself--with force, if necessary.
What I don't understand is how she can be angered by pretty much anything and everything to the point that she either inflicts harm or wants to...and still generally feels her sentiments and actions are justified.
That said, I still like Cecelia. There's something beautiful about the fact that she's flawed. Her perseverance to achieve her goals is undeniable, and she's gutsy. Despite her flaws, Cecelia is still a sympathtic and relateable character.
As for everyone else, I thought they were 'ok'. Nothing extraordinary, aside from Devin, who is fantastically weird. Derado is pretty creepy, too, though, so he's also a good fit for the title.
Most of the time I felt like the characters' immaturity in scenes could be compared to that of children; they get so angry over the pettiest things. It's a lot like listening to children whine about not being able to play with a toy they really want, actually.
Also, though the trajectory for the platonic relationship between Brey and Cecelia is hinted at extensively, the end result(s) still seemed too sudden for me.
Overall, most of the interactions didn't seem believable to me. The dialogue is diluted at most points and rather strained. Sometimes characters bicker just to bicker, and/or to pull readers into the story with action...but there isn't usually any real action behind those scenes.
*Plot*
The plot wasn't *stellar*, but it was definitely compelling enough to move forward!
There were several things that piqued my curiosity--especially those lovely blue eyes. Such an enigma...! What did they mean? Where did they come from? Do other people have them? Are there other special powers that these eyes give people (Cecelia has super strength, so...maybe)?
And then there were the plot twists. Most of them were somewhat obvious--I played FF, remember?--and the fact that I've read loads of books and am in the process of writing my own series helped lol...but they were enjoyable for the most part. The ending was definitely the best--I loved it!
I'm looking forward to reading the next installment ^_^.
***SPOILER ALERT***
If you haven't read the story yet and don't want to ruin it for yourself, DON'T READ PAST THIS POINT.
My gamer sense tingled while reading this novel.
Ok, so when the crew gets to Azgirth, there are bodies in pods that remind me of the pods/bodies in FFIX's Bran Bal (Terra), where Genomes are made. Weirdly, all the genomes have blonde hair and blue eyes...and lack souls... (hrmmm...sounds familiar...) but they have tails, and they don't have super-human strength. Just an observation.
The Blue-Eyed General will likely appeal to fans of the sci-fi/fantasy genre, gamers, and manga/anime otaku. For the most part, it's an entertaining read.
If you're looking for a book that is unique, yet has a distinctly Final Fantasy feel, The Blue-Eyed General is a good place to start!
While this book was not 'all that I hoped for a more', it had a relatively compelling plot, a very familiar environment (I grew up with Final Fantasy and I've been reading manga and watching anime for ages), and a lovable protagonist. I do, however, have mixed feelings about, well, pretty much everything.
*Prose*
The prose was *shocking*--in a I'm-not-sure-if-this-is-a-good-thing kind of way. It's tainted with a melodramatic flavor I felt was perhaps too blatant; there are more refined ways of expressing drama, tension, and panic than loading a paragraph with 5-6 exclamation points.
If exclamation points aren't your thing, sorry. The typical paragraph has 3-6 exclamation points. And if there aren't an overwhelming number of exclamation marks, there are loads of question marks. (Or both [?!].)
Because I'm a huge fan of manga/anime/j-drama (and because I'm pretty melodramatic myself lol), the style wasn't horrifically jarring; however, even I had trouble keeping my eyes from rolling, or yelling at the book, or ranting to my husband.
And yet, for all my snarkiness about this strategy...I can't say it doesn't work.
Cecelia/Tieve is extremely immature and rambunctious, and she's easily incited to threaten (or perform) bodily harm. But the prose betrays the General's soft nature. Even after she's filleted people or after she *threatens* to kill people, her internal dialogue belies her anger and attitude.
It's kind of like watching a kitten attempt to catch an evasive piece of string; while the chase is on, the kitten won't stop trying to reach that string, but once the kitten catches it, it's so content its entire demeanor changes.
Yes, I am saying that you could compare Cecelia to a kitten.
Cecelia likes to think of herself as a tough, I-don't-take-crap--ever--kind of person. But the prose doesn't really back this persona up. She's fierce, but her ferocity is usually somewhat silly/melodramatic. Plus, the fact that she's so naive doesn't help her "I'm super tough" case much.
Somehow, it's as if the exclamation point overkill is strangely appropriate...
If The Blue-Eyed General becomes a manga, it will be BRILLIANT.
*Characters*
Cecelia is ridiculously full of herself, and wears erraticism like a second skin, becoming enraged at the slightest offense (and sometimes, non-offense, really, which is even worse). She *attacks* people.
Personally, I don't have a problem with a character who attacks people, especially if they're supposed to be bad-arse or whatever. I mean, Cecelia is a general with super-human strength (hope that's not a spoiler...), so I understand her bouts of anger to a degree. I even understand her desire to assert herself--with force, if necessary.
What I don't understand is how she can be angered by pretty much anything and everything to the point that she either inflicts harm or wants to...and still generally feels her sentiments and actions are justified.
That said, I still like Cecelia. There's something beautiful about the fact that she's flawed. Her perseverance to achieve her goals is undeniable, and she's gutsy. Despite her flaws, Cecelia is still a sympathtic and relateable character.
As for everyone else, I thought they were 'ok'. Nothing extraordinary, aside from Devin, who is fantastically weird. Derado is pretty creepy, too, though, so he's also a good fit for the title.
Most of the time I felt like the characters' immaturity in scenes could be compared to that of children; they get so angry over the pettiest things. It's a lot like listening to children whine about not being able to play with a toy they really want, actually.
Also, though the trajectory for the platonic relationship between Brey and Cecelia is hinted at extensively, the end result(s) still seemed too sudden for me.
Overall, most of the interactions didn't seem believable to me. The dialogue is diluted at most points and rather strained. Sometimes characters bicker just to bicker, and/or to pull readers into the story with action...but there isn't usually any real action behind those scenes.
*Plot*
The plot wasn't *stellar*, but it was definitely compelling enough to move forward!
There were several things that piqued my curiosity--especially those lovely blue eyes. Such an enigma...! What did they mean? Where did they come from? Do other people have them? Are there other special powers that these eyes give people (Cecelia has super strength, so...maybe)?
And then there were the plot twists. Most of them were somewhat obvious--I played FF, remember?--and the fact that I've read loads of books and am in the process of writing my own series helped lol...but they were enjoyable for the most part. The ending was definitely the best--I loved it!
I'm looking forward to reading the next installment ^_^.
***SPOILER ALERT***
If you haven't read the story yet and don't want to ruin it for yourself, DON'T READ PAST THIS POINT.
My gamer sense tingled while reading this novel.
Ok, so when the crew gets to Azgirth, there are bodies in pods that remind me of the pods/bodies in FFIX's Bran Bal (Terra), where Genomes are made. Weirdly, all the genomes have blonde hair and blue eyes...and lack souls... (hrmmm...sounds familiar...) but they have tails, and they don't have super-human strength. Just an observation.
October 19, 2013
Alrighty. YAY I MANAGED TO READ THIS BEFORE ITS RELEASE DATE :D
Let's start!
So, I enjoyed it. I enjoyed entering this world that Inman created and the character of Tieve, or Cecilia or Cici or whatever you choose to call her, is such a badass and cool character!
Now, the entire plot is basically driven on Cecilia's revenge. Shit happens and she is pissed off at the person who took what she loved most in the world. Very logical and understandable - I would probably be hell bent on revenge too. In that respect, I could relate and that's probably why I enjoyed Cici so much. Plus the fact that she's a major badass with a sword only she can wield and that she has wonderful sarcastic charms about her, and I think Inman has created an amazing character. Another character I found myself loving a lot is Brey. At first I was skeptical. I mean, new guy in this messed up and war-driven world, one has to be careful! But when the readers gets that inside scoop to Brey and a little bit of his past, I fell for him. I decided in that moment I didn't care if he was evil or turned out to be because I felt for him! *key note, I'm not saying he turns evil I'm just saying IF he did... yeah.* I did enjoy Jed. But, he was in it for such a short time, and I know that was necessary. I could love him... and I'll leave it at that without revealing too much ;D
Now, pacing. The pacing was average. At some parts it dragged and others I was racing through to finish the page and find out what happens next. My only problem with the story, and main reason for why I gave it 3 stars instead of a higher rating, is that it feels like all information gets dumped on the reader quite a bit in the story. Whenever we meet a new character, "hey, overload on all this information and good luck remembering it all later." I feel that it often left me disoriented. Like, too much info all at once and I just got shut off by it. BUT. If you trudge along through it, because really it is actually important stuff, the story gets good.
Now, this last reason to why I gave it 3 stars is more of a petty reason, a pet peeve if you will. There's a lot of exclamation marks used throughout the story and I have issues with those litter buggers. I'm questioning whether or not the character actually shouts that much or what? To me, instead of exclamation marks, just use feelings and emotions (perhaps what the character was thinking at the time) to really get across how your character is reacting. I feel exclamation marks take away from it and sort of act in a petty way. Example: "I want candy!!!" "I loved you!!!" "How could you do this to me?!" Instead, using description - tone and whatnot - work a lot better than exclamation marks.
THE ENDING. omg. I was sitting on the edge of my seat, not gonna lie! I knew that ending was coming though I could just f e e l it in my bones but sTILL! Reading it and seeing all of Cici's questions and realizations come together was great. It gave me some piece of mind, for sure! And after that ending, the veeeery last line, I'm screaming out, "INMAN, I NEED BOOK 2!" (yes, I used exclamation. I do it for you, Inman.) Overall, 3 stars. And that's a respectable score for a debut novel. (It is a debut novel, correct?) I'm really looking forward to seeing how Inman takes the story :)
Let's start!
So, I enjoyed it. I enjoyed entering this world that Inman created and the character of Tieve, or Cecilia or Cici or whatever you choose to call her, is such a badass and cool character!
Now, the entire plot is basically driven on Cecilia's revenge. Shit happens and she is pissed off at the person who took what she loved most in the world. Very logical and understandable - I would probably be hell bent on revenge too. In that respect, I could relate and that's probably why I enjoyed Cici so much. Plus the fact that she's a major badass with a sword only she can wield and that she has wonderful sarcastic charms about her, and I think Inman has created an amazing character. Another character I found myself loving a lot is Brey. At first I was skeptical. I mean, new guy in this messed up and war-driven world, one has to be careful! But when the readers gets that inside scoop to Brey and a little bit of his past, I fell for him. I decided in that moment I didn't care if he was evil or turned out to be because I felt for him! *key note, I'm not saying he turns evil I'm just saying IF he did... yeah.* I did enjoy Jed. But, he was in it for such a short time, and I know that was necessary. I could love him... and I'll leave it at that without revealing too much ;D
Now, pacing. The pacing was average. At some parts it dragged and others I was racing through to finish the page and find out what happens next. My only problem with the story, and main reason for why I gave it 3 stars instead of a higher rating, is that it feels like all information gets dumped on the reader quite a bit in the story. Whenever we meet a new character, "hey, overload on all this information and good luck remembering it all later." I feel that it often left me disoriented. Like, too much info all at once and I just got shut off by it. BUT. If you trudge along through it, because really it is actually important stuff, the story gets good.
Now, this last reason to why I gave it 3 stars is more of a petty reason, a pet peeve if you will. There's a lot of exclamation marks used throughout the story and I have issues with those litter buggers. I'm questioning whether or not the character actually shouts that much or what? To me, instead of exclamation marks, just use feelings and emotions (perhaps what the character was thinking at the time) to really get across how your character is reacting. I feel exclamation marks take away from it and sort of act in a petty way. Example: "I want candy!!!" "I loved you!!!" "How could you do this to me?!" Instead, using description - tone and whatnot - work a lot better than exclamation marks.
THE ENDING. omg. I was sitting on the edge of my seat, not gonna lie! I knew that ending was coming though I could just f e e l it in my bones but sTILL! Reading it and seeing all of Cici's questions and realizations come together was great. It gave me some piece of mind, for sure! And after that ending, the veeeery last line, I'm screaming out, "INMAN, I NEED BOOK 2!" (yes, I used exclamation. I do it for you, Inman.) Overall, 3 stars. And that's a respectable score for a debut novel. (It is a debut novel, correct?) I'm really looking forward to seeing how Inman takes the story :)
December 14, 2013
“Jed’s dead. These are the words that transform seventeen year old Cecelia Rivermire’s quiet life into a manhunt. A manhunt to kill the man that murdered her only friend. A manhunt to kill the man that murdered her first love. In this quest for revenge, however, she’ll soon discover that everything she’s ever known has been a lie, including everything she thinks she knows about herself…”
With such words opening the blurb I was immediately drawn to this book. I devoured the story in a day, then breathed while I mulled over my review. The Blue Eyed General is a difficult review for me to write. I feel like I have a love hate relationship with this book. I waited a couple weeks after reading to see if I still felt the same way.
First I found that I absolutely couldn’t stop thinking about it. I will definitely be reading the second instalment . The world building was superb. Rebecca wove the descriptions seamlessly into the plot. I am a lover of Anime and I could see this easily as a graphic manga. Cecilia’s story was compelling. She drew me right in with her emotions and quest for vengeance. I found the plot intriguing, as well, and it was executed well enough to keep me pretty engaged. The opening was very strong and kept me engaged throughout.
Second I had issues with the main and supporting characters. I will admit I do not read a lot of YAs, so I am wondering if the characters should be so immature. There were times I wanted to smack Cecelia due to her immature behavior. She had seemed so kick ass, powerful and revered I had thought she would have be more decisive and firm. She was quick to anger, readily drawing her sword and acting aggressively at the slightest taunt, and in some instances for no logical reason. She is also very egotistical and this did not really draw me toward her. But then I had to pause and consider that it may be normal for a seventeen year old to behave so? But despite this she managed to pull through as a likable character, and such flaws made her relatable. I was still cheering for her and I remained invested in her journey throughout the book.
The supporting characters were flat for me. At times they seemed overly immature and their interaction forced. I did like Brey very much and I liked the tension between him and Cecila. I will read the other series to see how they develop.
I think that is what gets me so much about this book. There are clear things I did not like about it. Things I ranted about such as the copious amount of exclamation marks that peppered the pages. But I assure you the minute the second installment releases I will be buying it. I found myself wondering, weeks after, what will happen and what could be the possible resolution. It is for this reason, this interest to know more, how invested I have become in Cecilia’s journey I am giving this book a rating of 4.
November 14, 2013
If you liked Graceling, Legend and Throne of Glass, The Blue Eyed General should be your next read.
Tieve Kedgewater's best friend, Jed leaves home to join Elite, a militant group planning to overthrow their Emperor. After Jed is killed in action, Tieve blames the rebellion's leader, Caleb. Thinking her best shot at revenge is killing Caleb in combat, she changes her name to Cecelia Rivermire and becomes a soldier in the Emperor's army. Blessed with extraordinary strength, agility and focus, Cecelia advances to the position of Third General of the Royal Litekian Squad and Commander in Chief of Division Two. In addition to her military prowess, Cecelia stands out because of her perfect skin, blond hair and piercing blue eyes. She quickly becomes famous for both her beauty and brawn. Which is why everyone is shocked to learn General Cecelia has been charged with treason and sentenced to die at the end of Chapter One.
No spoilers here: but Cecelia continues on her quest to kill Caleb despite her fall from grace. With the help of a gang of thieves, she hides from those who would kill her while running toward her goal of revenge. Along the way, she discovers truths about the Emperor, her army and the rebels she has always considered the enemy.
The Blue Eyed General is a fast paced adventure with everything I love in a book: sci-fi elements, action, romance, humor, mystery, surprises, drama and a very original plot. There are fight scenes with magical weapons and android soldiers, daring rescues and narrow escapes, and a mystery that slowly unfolds as Cecelia's life quickly unravels. All the characters are dynamic and entertaining - there are ones you love, ones you love to hate, ones you want to slap, ones you want to strangle... and the bad guys are REALLY bad guys.
I really enjoyed this story, and I highly recommend it for fans of YA lit with a sci-fi fantasy adventure plot. I look forward to the next book and wish Rebecca Inman all the best with her career.
* I was given a copy of the book in exchange for a fair review. Review posted on TheBookBeacon.com
Tieve Kedgewater's best friend, Jed leaves home to join Elite, a militant group planning to overthrow their Emperor. After Jed is killed in action, Tieve blames the rebellion's leader, Caleb. Thinking her best shot at revenge is killing Caleb in combat, she changes her name to Cecelia Rivermire and becomes a soldier in the Emperor's army. Blessed with extraordinary strength, agility and focus, Cecelia advances to the position of Third General of the Royal Litekian Squad and Commander in Chief of Division Two. In addition to her military prowess, Cecelia stands out because of her perfect skin, blond hair and piercing blue eyes. She quickly becomes famous for both her beauty and brawn. Which is why everyone is shocked to learn General Cecelia has been charged with treason and sentenced to die at the end of Chapter One.
No spoilers here: but Cecelia continues on her quest to kill Caleb despite her fall from grace. With the help of a gang of thieves, she hides from those who would kill her while running toward her goal of revenge. Along the way, she discovers truths about the Emperor, her army and the rebels she has always considered the enemy.
The Blue Eyed General is a fast paced adventure with everything I love in a book: sci-fi elements, action, romance, humor, mystery, surprises, drama and a very original plot. There are fight scenes with magical weapons and android soldiers, daring rescues and narrow escapes, and a mystery that slowly unfolds as Cecelia's life quickly unravels. All the characters are dynamic and entertaining - there are ones you love, ones you love to hate, ones you want to slap, ones you want to strangle... and the bad guys are REALLY bad guys.
I really enjoyed this story, and I highly recommend it for fans of YA lit with a sci-fi fantasy adventure plot. I look forward to the next book and wish Rebecca Inman all the best with her career.
* I was given a copy of the book in exchange for a fair review. Review posted on TheBookBeacon.com
November 14, 2013
If you liked Graceling, Legend and Throne of Glass, The Blue Eyed General should be your next read.
Tieve Kedgewater's best friend, Jed leaves home to join Elite, a militant group planning to overthrow their Emperor. After Jed is killed in action, Tieve blames the rebellion's leader, Caleb. Thinking her best shot at revenge is killing Caleb in combat, she changes her name to Cecelia Rivermire and becomes a soldier in the Emperor's army. Blessed with extraordinary strength, agility and focus, Cecelia advances to the position of Third General of the Royal Litekian Squad and Commander in Chief of Division Two. In addition to her military prowess, Cecelia stands out because of her perfect skin, blond hair and piercing blue eyes. She quickly becomes famous for both her beauty and brawn. Which is why everyone is shocked to learn General Cecelia has been charged with treason and sentenced to die at the end of Chapter One.
No spoilers here: but Cecelia continues on her quest to kill Caleb despite her fall from grace. With the help of a gang of thieves, she hides from those who would kill her while running toward her goal of revenge. Along the way, she discovers truths about the Emperor, her army and the rebels she has always considered the enemy.
The Blue Eyed General is a fast paced adventure with everything I love in a book: sci-fi elements, action, romance, humor, mystery, surprises, drama and a very original plot. There are fight scenes with magical weapons and android soldiers, daring rescues and narrow escapes, and a mystery that slowly unfolds as Cecelia's life quickly unravels. All the characters are dynamic and entertaining - there are ones you love, ones you love to hate, ones you want to slap, ones you want to strangle... and the bad guys are REALLY bad guys.
I really enjoyed this story, and I highly recommend it for fans of YA lit with a sci-fi fantasy adventure plot. I look forward to the next book and wish Rebecca Inman all the best with her career.
*I was given an advance copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.
Tieve Kedgewater's best friend, Jed leaves home to join Elite, a militant group planning to overthrow their Emperor. After Jed is killed in action, Tieve blames the rebellion's leader, Caleb. Thinking her best shot at revenge is killing Caleb in combat, she changes her name to Cecelia Rivermire and becomes a soldier in the Emperor's army. Blessed with extraordinary strength, agility and focus, Cecelia advances to the position of Third General of the Royal Litekian Squad and Commander in Chief of Division Two. In addition to her military prowess, Cecelia stands out because of her perfect skin, blond hair and piercing blue eyes. She quickly becomes famous for both her beauty and brawn. Which is why everyone is shocked to learn General Cecelia has been charged with treason and sentenced to die at the end of Chapter One.
No spoilers here: but Cecelia continues on her quest to kill Caleb despite her fall from grace. With the help of a gang of thieves, she hides from those who would kill her while running toward her goal of revenge. Along the way, she discovers truths about the Emperor, her army and the rebels she has always considered the enemy.
The Blue Eyed General is a fast paced adventure with everything I love in a book: sci-fi elements, action, romance, humor, mystery, surprises, drama and a very original plot. There are fight scenes with magical weapons and android soldiers, daring rescues and narrow escapes, and a mystery that slowly unfolds as Cecelia's life quickly unravels. All the characters are dynamic and entertaining - there are ones you love, ones you love to hate, ones you want to slap, ones you want to strangle... and the bad guys are REALLY bad guys.
I really enjoyed this story, and I highly recommend it for fans of YA lit with a sci-fi fantasy adventure plot. I look forward to the next book and wish Rebecca Inman all the best with her career.
*I was given an advance copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.
October 19, 2013
Thank you to the author for the review copy :)
Jed’s dead. These are the words that transform's Cecelia Rivermire’s quiet life into a manhunt. A manhunt to kill the man that murdered her only friend. A manhunt to kill the man that murdered her first love. In this quest for revenge, however, she’ll soon discover that everything she’s ever known has been a lie, including everything she thinks she knows about herself…
So we meet Cecilia, who loses her best friend and first love and sets out on a quest for revenge that may not go entirely to plan...now a General we see in flashback what has led her here, and when her Emporer turns on her the adventure really begins.
I really enjoyed this it has to be said. Cecilia is a top notch character and the world building is well done. As she discovers that things are not entirely as she thought in the world she lives in, the story is fast paced and intriguing - set to be a trilogy this is a great "Part One" and will certainly ensure you want to read onwards...
Some great "supporting" characters (Brey. Loved Brey!) flesh out the story and there are some great twists and turns along the way, with an ending that will make you sigh (in a good way) and long for chapter two...
Well written, some flaws but that is to be expected, and fascinating enough to keep you hooked until the last page, I am pleased to be in at the start of this one. In the explosion of YA to the reading world this is an excellent example of its kind and I shall look forward to more. Recommended for YA fans, especially if you like action, a bit of romance and some likeable AND unlikeable characters to meet along the way.
Jed’s dead. These are the words that transform's Cecelia Rivermire’s quiet life into a manhunt. A manhunt to kill the man that murdered her only friend. A manhunt to kill the man that murdered her first love. In this quest for revenge, however, she’ll soon discover that everything she’s ever known has been a lie, including everything she thinks she knows about herself…
So we meet Cecilia, who loses her best friend and first love and sets out on a quest for revenge that may not go entirely to plan...now a General we see in flashback what has led her here, and when her Emporer turns on her the adventure really begins.
I really enjoyed this it has to be said. Cecilia is a top notch character and the world building is well done. As she discovers that things are not entirely as she thought in the world she lives in, the story is fast paced and intriguing - set to be a trilogy this is a great "Part One" and will certainly ensure you want to read onwards...
Some great "supporting" characters (Brey. Loved Brey!) flesh out the story and there are some great twists and turns along the way, with an ending that will make you sigh (in a good way) and long for chapter two...
Well written, some flaws but that is to be expected, and fascinating enough to keep you hooked until the last page, I am pleased to be in at the start of this one. In the explosion of YA to the reading world this is an excellent example of its kind and I shall look forward to more. Recommended for YA fans, especially if you like action, a bit of romance and some likeable AND unlikeable characters to meet along the way.
December 10, 2013
Great story, if a little long.
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