Avoidables

by Rachel Medhurst

Avoidables have defects ranging from looks to unexplained gifts. Some of us are half breeds. Dragons and animals were known to have bred with the human race thousands of years ago. We all live in cities, usually divided in two. The Perfects live on the Upper Side, while the Avoidables inhabit the Lower Side. We've been consumed by hate for a race that rejects us so heartlessly. We've become dangerous. All we want is the Perfects to love and respect us. Follow Hope, Purple and Jason on their individual journeys. Hope uncovers a great secret about herself when she meets Jason, a Perfect that brings out the best in her. Purple tries to rescue a kidnaped Hope, but soon realises that she's in better company than they knew. When he meets Alia, he's determined not to follow his best friends footsteps in love. Jason needs to prove himself. Avoidables view him as the Perfect mummy's boy, but he will find a way to show Hope that he is perfect for her.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult

306 pages, Paperback

Published December 18, 2014

About the author

Rachel Medhurst grew up in a small village in Surrey, England. She writes to inspire and heal. She lives in the British countryside with her dog. If she’s not writing, she can be found walking in nature and reading. For more information about current projects, including her short story dystopian series, Avoidables, please check out her website.

Reviews

[[ J o ] · Rating 1 out of 5]

[ to review at a later date - perhaps even re-read and review at a later date as well, though not urgent ]

[Anne-Marie Gort · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is well written. I enjoyed it very much. I am looking forward to reading the next installment and the rest of her books.

[Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was all about building the story and introducing the characters. Not much action, but I think the next book in the series might be good.

[Gian Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

I downloaded a free copy of this book, attracted mostly from the title - and from what the blurb was promising.
Avoidable introduces itself as a serialized fantasy-romance story about love and survival, where all the following books of the serie are in a different character's point of view, so you can get to know them better.
So I got started, ready for other ones
Now, I don't usually read fantasy-romance but I made an exception 'cause I honestly liked so much the basic idea about a "Earths split in two different races, the Avoidables and the Perfects" , that I wanted to find, or better, I was hoping to find, a further meaning behind it.
The dominant race is obviously the one in charge, where the outcasts live their lives on the outskirts of society because of their natural condition.
As a great fan of orwellian dystopian fictional works - I approached the book with that in mind, but that was my fault.
The book truly is a romance - all about love - specifically between the female main character that jumps quite soon from not having one of her arms - to suddenly regrowing a new on along a brand new set of wings.
And probably the reason why I couldn't fully appreciate it.
Though it was well written and rather entertaining - just couldn't relate to subject on a more deep level.
A good read for lovers of the genre though.

[Barb · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the blurb for this book, that's what drew me in and prompted me to begin reading. It's an interesting concept -- half of society is shunned (and worse) because they are less than perfect, they are Avoidables. The Perfects live in their own sector and the Avoidables are not allowed to cross. However, Hope likes to live on the edge and she does cross over and in one night everything changes for her.

Avoidables was a quick read, but I really wished for more build-up. Author Rachel Medhurst has a unique style and I like her writing, but I wanted more -- more tension between Hope and Jason. More backstory early on, slowly building and leading me into the story.

I'm personally not a fan of angel-style stories or characters, and that's just me. However, the concept was interesting.

[DENISA HOWE · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the fantasy storyline… A cross between almost Science Fiction and fantasy… A world different from ours. Cities that are separated between the perfects and the avoidable. There are other rebellion groups fighting for equality in different ways. A lot of uncertainty in families. Children born with a handicap or deformity and even special powers such as angel wings or soul reading are AVOIDABLES and banned to live in the lower city. The characters are amazing and their emotions, thoughts and actions find a place within your heart very easily. They love, laugh, smile, cry, fear and have great hope. This book has action, fantasy, magic, reality and just might consume your day until you finish it..

[Liv.Millie02 · Rating 5 out of 5]

personally I loved the story line of this series and the idea of splitting a world into two categories (perfects and avoidables) is a brilliant idea but adding romance and fantasy is just even better !!!!!!!!

[Kathy Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first foray into dystopian fiction, and I gotta say I'm really glad I started with Avoidables. It's a fast paced story with plenty of mystery and doesn't harp on misery.