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Everlife #1
Firstlife
I’ve been told history is written by survivors. But I know that isn’t always true. My name is Tenley Lockwood, and very soon, I’ll be dead. This is my story—but the end is only the beginning.
Tenley “Ten” Lockwood has spent the past thirteen months locked inside the Prynne Asylum. She’s earned her rep as the craziest of crazies, but that doesn’t stop the torture. Ten can leave, but only if she allows her parents to choose where she’ll live—after she dies.
There is an eternal truth most of the world has come to accept: Firstlife is merely a dress rehearsal, and real life begins after death.
In the Everlife, two realms are in power: Troika and Myriad, longtime enemies and deadly rivals. Both will do anything to recruit Ten, including sending their top Laborers to lure her to their side. Soon, Ten finds herself on the run, caught in a wild tug-of-war between the boy she’s falling for and the realm she wants to support. Who will she choose? Can she stay alive long enough to make a decision?
Tenley “Ten” Lockwood has spent the past thirteen months locked inside the Prynne Asylum. She’s earned her rep as the craziest of crazies, but that doesn’t stop the torture. Ten can leave, but only if she allows her parents to choose where she’ll live—after she dies.
There is an eternal truth most of the world has come to accept: Firstlife is merely a dress rehearsal, and real life begins after death.
In the Everlife, two realms are in power: Troika and Myriad, longtime enemies and deadly rivals. Both will do anything to recruit Ten, including sending their top Laborers to lure her to their side. Soon, Ten finds herself on the run, caught in a wild tug-of-war between the boy she’s falling for and the realm she wants to support. Who will she choose? Can she stay alive long enough to make a decision?
467 pages, Hardcover
First published February 23, 2016
1629 people are currently reading
46548 people want to read
About the author
Gena Showalter
263 books27.8k followersGena Showalter is the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of over seventy books, including the acclaimed Lords of the Underworld series, the Gods of War series, the White Rabbit Chronicles, and the Forest of Good and Evil series. She writes sizzling paranormal romance, heartwarming contemporary romance, and unputdownable young adult novels, and lives in Oklahoma City with her family and menagerie of dogs and cats.
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December 10, 2025
An absolute dumpster fire
I do not say this lightly. This has (quite possibly) been the most difficult book I've ever forced myself through.
It violated the three "Big Three": Plot, Character and Dialogue. I can handle a book is a bit sucky on any one of those, or even two. But all three? The entire book? Are. You. Kidding.
The Plot (aka The Plotholes)
After you die on Earth, your Firstlife is over. You then have three options. If you signed with one of the two realms (Troika and Myriad aka Heaven and Hell), you will go there. If you are Unsigned, you go to Many Ends (Purgatory).
Tenely (our main character) is at the age of consent (17) and thus can be recruited by either side. She declines to make a decision and is thrown into essentially a concentration camp by her parents until either (A) she signs with one or (B) she ages out (at 18).
Troika and Myriad are at war and have been at war for over a hundred years and are constantly sending "laborers" to recruit more soldiers. BUT it's never explained (A) the purpose of the war and (B) what they are fighting for.
Let me repeat this: The entire plot of this book is which side Tenley will choose to fight for and we have no idea why they're fighting.
The best part? The book goes on and on about how there's No Second Chance - once you die, that's it and you can never go back. Tenley died four times.
The Characters (aka My Hit List)
We center on Tenley - a particularly special girl with a special destiny and an especially special personality. She's a quirky special snowflake.
Also, they are unbelievably hot (like you have no idea how completely gorgeous they are. OMG. heavy breathing.). Don't believe me? Sloan (the former mean girl / sworn enemy) completely collapses at the sight of them - regressing to the mind of an elementary child:
The Dialogue (aka How Was this Typed with a Straight Face??)
The Summary (aka this is literally me the entire time)
The Finer Books Club - 2018 Reading Challenge: A book a friend doesn't recommend
P.s. With many thanks to Angela's Booked for "not recommending" this book.
P.p.s. I will be reading Book 2 solely to "not recommend" it to you.
YouTube | Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Snapchat @miranda_reads
I do not say this lightly. This has (quite possibly) been the most difficult book I've ever forced myself through.
It violated the three "Big Three": Plot, Character and Dialogue. I can handle a book is a bit sucky on any one of those, or even two. But all three? The entire book? Are. You. Kidding.
The Plot (aka The Plotholes)
After you die on Earth, your Firstlife is over. You then have three options. If you signed with one of the two realms (Troika and Myriad aka Heaven and Hell), you will go there. If you are Unsigned, you go to Many Ends (Purgatory).
Tenely (our main character) is at the age of consent (17) and thus can be recruited by either side. She declines to make a decision and is thrown into essentially a concentration camp by her parents until either (A) she signs with one or (B) she ages out (at 18).
Troika and Myriad are at war and have been at war for over a hundred years and are constantly sending "laborers" to recruit more soldiers. BUT it's never explained (A) the purpose of the war and (B) what they are fighting for.
Let me repeat this: The entire plot of this book is which side Tenley will choose to fight for and we have no idea why they're fighting.
The best part? The book goes on and on about how there's No Second Chance - once you die, that's it and you can never go back. Tenley died four times.
The Characters (aka My Hit List)
We center on Tenley - a particularly special girl with a special destiny and an especially special personality. She's a quirky special snowflake.
Just picture an entire book filled with that...and add in the obsessive number comparisons which crops up because she's Ten-ley. Get it? GET IT? It's so quirky!!
“Oh, and let’s not forget the time I was waterboarded. So fun!” Shut up! common sense shouts. I’m oversharing when it’s time to be a vault. Oh, who cares? This is a wonderful day, and I love absolutely everyone!
Tenley is relentlessly pursued by two Laborers - Archer (Troika) and Killian (Myriad) - hell-bent on getting her to sign with their realm and getting into her pants. They are technically in their Secondlife but can possess Shells to interact with the human world.
“Just thirteen streaks of blood.” In the ancient past, thirteen steps led to the gallows. A hangman’s noose has thirteen knots. At thirteen, children are considered teenagers.
Also, they are unbelievably hot (like you have no idea how completely gorgeous they are. OMG. heavy breathing.). Don't believe me? Sloan (the former mean girl / sworn enemy) completely collapses at the sight of them - regressing to the mind of an elementary child:
But of course, in typical YA dogma, both hotties completely fall in love with the quirky main character within the first day. Thus burdening her overtaxed mind with more decisions. It's a rough life.
“He’s hot,” Sloan says in a stage whisper. Hoping he’ll hear and respond? Then she gives up all pretense of timidity and makes grabby hands. “Yummy yum yum, give baby some sugar.”
The Dialogue (aka How Was this Typed with a Straight Face??)
Archer (along with the other characters but he's especially like this) is given that "edgy humor" - which came off as cripplingly cringey:
Now I smile sweetly at him. “Cockiness kills as surely as this knife.” I use the tip of my weapon to give his berries a little pat.
Or this:
"If your lady balls are so big, why don’t they call you Hairy Cherries? Or Furry Meatballs?"
Or this:
"Well, duh. Because neither name describes your explosive temper. Oh! I know. I’ll call you Sperm Bank! It covers the balls and the explosions."
Killian aka the "he-slut" (EXCUSE ME GENA SHOWALTER, it's man-whore and you know it) has finally found love through Tenley. Sure he used to bang everything that moved but Tenley tamed him with just a look. Oh, and he's Irish because he says Lass. Eighteen times.
"Boobs are awesome, yeah? Literal fun-bags. I don’t know what you girls are always complaining about."
The Summary (aka this is literally me the entire time)
After all my complaining, there is something positive that can be gained. If this can be published, anything can happen. Never give up on your dreams.
Me vs. Tenley
Tenley:
Me:
The Finer Books Club - 2018 Reading Challenge: A book a friend doesn't recommend
P.s. With many thanks to Angela's Booked for "not recommending" this book.
P.p.s. I will be reading Book 2 solely to "not recommend" it to you.
YouTube | Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Snapchat @miranda_reads
March 8, 2016
"A Conduit is the highest type of General, second only to King. Conduits are rare and precious, powerful both here and there. They absorb sunlight from Earth—which is more than just heat and illumination—and direct the beams to the realm. There are whispers about you,” she says, only to go quiet.Warning: Special Girl alert!
“Whispers suggesting I’m a Conduit?” Someone rare and precious? Powerful?
This book has whiny special snowflake written all over it. Even worse than the main character is the writing and setting, The writing is extremely choppy. That, combined with the action-packed plot, rendered the book nearly unreadable. This has the pleasure of being the most headache-inducing book I've read so far this year
The bad.
1. The setting is a massive headache-inducing infodump filled with plot holes
2. Within 10 pages, we learn that Ten is destined to be a Speshul, Speshul girl with a Speshul, Speshul destiny
3. The writing. Horrendous.
4. The stupid romance. Yes, the death of many a promising book
So, the setting. Simply put, life is not life. Life is just a preparation for the next life, in which you get to choose a faction. The factions are either Myriad or Troika. Ten is in an asylum because she refuses to choose a side.
Now all that is fantastic and great. I mean, good for you, girl. Stand up for yourself. Be a rebel. Withstand 13 months of misery and torture in the asylum so you can stand up for what you believe in.
So what's the problem here? The problem is that Ten never, ever gives us a fucking reason why she won't choose a fucking side. Like what the fuck?! If you're going to stand for something, fucking tell us what that something is! Imagine: Martin Luther King gives his "I have a dream" speech. That speech would be pretty meaningless if he hadn't gone on to tell us why, right? GIVE ME A FREAKING REASON. So stupid. So frustrating. I just kept waiting for a reason and I never got it.
As such, the book felt like an exercise in futility. The concept of a second life is so interesting, except that major, major things are never explained. Things like: the factions are at war. But why are they at war? Yeah. A not insignificant question.
Ten is a special snowflake, in case the first quote in my review didn't make it quite clear. She's in such high demand that both sides, Troika and Myriad, have sent two ultra-hot boys to win her over to their respective sides. And damn if it isn't a good strategy, because Ten really can't fucking focus on anything besides how hot the guys are.
Ten's girl boner constantly rages on throughout the book. It's pretty ironic that Ten says “Beauty fades. Character lasts forever” because lol it really doesn't show.
My gaze lands on a boy I’ve never before seen and oh, wow. Okay. He. Is. Gorgeous. Not that I care about a pretty face. Pretty can hide a monster. But I’m not overhyping when I say he’s a living ad for every dream-boy fantasy every girl in the universe has ever had.
The writing. Good god, I hated the writing. The sentences are short. Descriptions are brief. The majority of the book, it feels, is speech. It was so confusing. It was so disruptive. The main character is OCD with an obsession with numbers and by god if I didn't feel claustrophobic reading through her narration. It's not a skill to annoy a reader. I'll leave you with an excerpt of the writing style.
“I can have each of those things in this life, on my own.”
“So. You want what you can’t find here.” He releases me. “You want a guarantee.”
Yes! “I want to not regret my decision forever.” Pressure...
“No one can give you a guarantee.”
“I know!” Growing... “Here, at least, I can tell myself that what happens is temporary. In the Everlife, I can’t do that. It’s permanent.”
“Until Second-death.”
“Well, I gather it’s much, much harder to kill a spirit than a human.”
“Maybe I’ll be killed if I fail to sign you.”
Pressure...exploding. Another manipulation. The last one I’ll tolerate.
February 10, 2017
DNF at page 149
*sighs* Buckle up, folks, because this is going to be one long, gif filled review.
Firstlife was one of my most anticipated books of 2016. Needless to say, I was a little disappointed.
This book's premise was so interesting. Everyone in this world has a Firstlife, and they get to choose which Everlife to live in after they die? Hells yes! The two Everlifes (Everlifes? Everlives?) are at war, but our main character doesn't want to sign with either? Even more yes! And the cover! Just look at that cover!
Then I opened the book. And now I'd rather just keep looking at the cover.
The book starts off with a series of emails between a Troika Laborer (someone in charge of recruiting the Unsigned) and their "General", and I kid you not, this is the first line of the book:
"Duuuuude. A heads-up would've been nice. Can you say whack shack?"
...what?
Maybe it's because of the absurd amount of fantasy I read; I was a little caught off-guard when I heard a teenager talk like a normal teenager and not the Queen of England in the 15th Century. So I got over that - until I read the General's reply. One of the General's emails was titled:
"Permission Gr....Denied! (Admit it. Your little-girl heart skipped a beat.)
What kind of high-ranking General would phrase something like that? Aren't they supposed to be formal, or "in charge"? It seemed like a failed attempt at being "hip with the teens".
Again, I kept reading.
More ridiculous emails and many torturous pages later, we meet our main character: Tenley (Ten) Lockwood. A teenage girl with trust issues and an affinity for numbers. Can we just focus on the fact that her name is Ten and she likes numbers for a second, please?
That's basically like naming a kid "Word" because they like to read, or "Sport" because they're athletic.
I tried liking these characters, believe me, I did. But I couldn't do it. They were all just so forced. Like carbon-copies of all stereotypical YA characters.
The main girl, a "special snowflake" who is different for the rest.
The funny sidekick that is really just there for comic relief, and will probably become a love interest for said special snowflake later.
The hot, mysterious guy that the main girl refuses to fall for, and, of course, falls for anyway. Because we wouldn't want to upset the trope-gods by creating original characters, now would we?
Tenley has spent the last thirteen months trapped in the Prynne Asylum (don't ask me how to pronounce this, I'm in the same boat as you). This institution is for all teenagers who are Unsigned and "destined for The Land of Many Ends", where you supposedly go if you don't sign with either Troika of Myriad. Tenley and the rest of the inmates have all been brutally tortured by this asshat named Vans. Which leads to to my next subject: Tenley's parents actually condoned this. They literally gave their permission to have Tenley tortured by a psychotic middle-aged man, who would probably have been Professor Umbridge's soulmate if either of them had the capacity to feel any emotion besides burning hatred.
At least 90% of the lines that were most likely aimed to sound "badass" or "cool" seemed to fall flat to me. For example,
"We aren't given forks or knives, ever. Not that it matters. I can do bad, bad things with a spoon."
What the hell? Is this just me? Tell me this isn't just me.
I think the biggest problem I had with this book was the writing style. I couldn't wrap my head around the cheesy lines, the awkward phrasing, and the weird, random things Tenley thought. It sounded like the author thought all teenagers talked like this, and for me, it really took away from the story. And if I had to endure one more page of Tenley internally shouting "Zero!", I might've thrown the book at a wall. Repeatedly.
Now as you could probably tell from the opening of this review, I DNFed this book not even halfway through - I had been struggling through it for a week, and I needed to finish other books on my July TBR. Will I ever come back to this book? Probably not. Firstlife just may be destined to lie on my shelf as the biggest bookish disappointment of 2016.
*sighs* Buckle up, folks, because this is going to be one long, gif filled review.
Firstlife was one of my most anticipated books of 2016. Needless to say, I was a little disappointed.
This book's premise was so interesting. Everyone in this world has a Firstlife, and they get to choose which Everlife to live in after they die? Hells yes! The two Everlifes (Everlifes? Everlives?) are at war, but our main character doesn't want to sign with either? Even more yes! And the cover! Just look at that cover!
Then I opened the book. And now I'd rather just keep looking at the cover.
The book starts off with a series of emails between a Troika Laborer (someone in charge of recruiting the Unsigned) and their "General", and I kid you not, this is the first line of the book:
"Duuuuude. A heads-up would've been nice. Can you say whack shack?"
...what?
Maybe it's because of the absurd amount of fantasy I read; I was a little caught off-guard when I heard a teenager talk like a normal teenager and not the Queen of England in the 15th Century. So I got over that - until I read the General's reply. One of the General's emails was titled:
"Permission Gr....Denied! (Admit it. Your little-girl heart skipped a beat.)
What kind of high-ranking General would phrase something like that? Aren't they supposed to be formal, or "in charge"? It seemed like a failed attempt at being "hip with the teens".
Again, I kept reading.
More ridiculous emails and many torturous pages later, we meet our main character: Tenley (Ten) Lockwood. A teenage girl with trust issues and an affinity for numbers. Can we just focus on the fact that her name is Ten and she likes numbers for a second, please?
That's basically like naming a kid "Word" because they like to read, or "Sport" because they're athletic.
I tried liking these characters, believe me, I did. But I couldn't do it. They were all just so forced. Like carbon-copies of all stereotypical YA characters.
The main girl, a "special snowflake" who is different for the rest.
The funny sidekick that is really just there for comic relief, and will probably become a love interest for said special snowflake later.
The hot, mysterious guy that the main girl refuses to fall for, and, of course, falls for anyway. Because we wouldn't want to upset the trope-gods by creating original characters, now would we?
Tenley has spent the last thirteen months trapped in the Prynne Asylum (don't ask me how to pronounce this, I'm in the same boat as you). This institution is for all teenagers who are Unsigned and "destined for The Land of Many Ends", where you supposedly go if you don't sign with either Troika of Myriad. Tenley and the rest of the inmates have all been brutally tortured by this asshat named Vans. Which leads to to my next subject: Tenley's parents actually condoned this. They literally gave their permission to have Tenley tortured by a psychotic middle-aged man, who would probably have been Professor Umbridge's soulmate if either of them had the capacity to feel any emotion besides burning hatred.
At least 90% of the lines that were most likely aimed to sound "badass" or "cool" seemed to fall flat to me. For example,
"We aren't given forks or knives, ever. Not that it matters. I can do bad, bad things with a spoon."
What the hell? Is this just me? Tell me this isn't just me.
I think the biggest problem I had with this book was the writing style. I couldn't wrap my head around the cheesy lines, the awkward phrasing, and the weird, random things Tenley thought. It sounded like the author thought all teenagers talked like this, and for me, it really took away from the story. And if I had to endure one more page of Tenley internally shouting "Zero!", I might've thrown the book at a wall. Repeatedly.
Now as you could probably tell from the opening of this review, I DNFed this book not even halfway through - I had been struggling through it for a week, and I needed to finish other books on my July TBR. Will I ever come back to this book? Probably not. Firstlife just may be destined to lie on my shelf as the biggest bookish disappointment of 2016.
April 22, 2017
Such a cool concept but the execution was a little lacking. I found myself asking a lot of questions that I never got the answers to and then the novel turned into a story about one thing that really just made me lose interest. A classic case of sounded great, started off awesome, and then just went downhill from there.
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September 1, 2015Wow. The very last word of this book left me with a huge smile on my face - It was a moment I'd been hoping would happen!!
After reading the White Rabbit Chronicles I can tell you this series is going to be much grittier, definitely raw and more mature (upper YA), with a major BAD BOY ALERT. The concept is intricate and genius. I'm blown away and so honored to have read an early copy!
After reading the White Rabbit Chronicles I can tell you this series is going to be much grittier, definitely raw and more mature (upper YA), with a major BAD BOY ALERT. The concept is intricate and genius. I'm blown away and so honored to have read an early copy!
March 24, 2016
At first I thought this book would be a favorite. It had this great idea: our lives are short, but our eternities are long, so each person has to sign-up with the place where they will spend eternity. There are two choices: Myriad and Troika.
Myriad is all about strength and winning. It is also in the dark, but there are parties and nighttime fun. If you are willing to sign up for Myriad, they will offer you all sorts of bonus packages to enjoy in your "firstlife", like fame and riches.
Troika is all about forgiveness and equality. It is a light realm, but there are rules that must be followed and the good of others should come before your own good. They don't offer anyone special bonuses to sign up, they only offer their fellowship, comfort, and help if you ask for it.
Each of these realms sends out "laborers" who are basically recruiters for their team. They are supposed to help the undecided pick out where they want to go for their "Secondlife".
Pretty cool idea? Yes, but as usual, the execution of this idea was the problem.
It's the old "Expectation vs. Reality" problem.
So, with this great idea comes a special snowflake who is the most important human being on Earth. A 17 yr old girl who is in an insane asylum. She is also a poet. And a virgin. Oh, and a badass.
So, there are two guys from the two different places that will do anything to win her to their side. She falls in love with them, but won't choose because of reasons.
That's right, all of the cool ideas for this interesting world and it evolves into an angsty YA novel with a love triangle.
No. Just no.
Myriad is all about strength and winning. It is also in the dark, but there are parties and nighttime fun. If you are willing to sign up for Myriad, they will offer you all sorts of bonus packages to enjoy in your "firstlife", like fame and riches.
Troika is all about forgiveness and equality. It is a light realm, but there are rules that must be followed and the good of others should come before your own good. They don't offer anyone special bonuses to sign up, they only offer their fellowship, comfort, and help if you ask for it.
Each of these realms sends out "laborers" who are basically recruiters for their team. They are supposed to help the undecided pick out where they want to go for their "Secondlife".
Pretty cool idea? Yes, but as usual, the execution of this idea was the problem.
It's the old "Expectation vs. Reality" problem.
So, with this great idea comes a special snowflake who is the most important human being on Earth. A 17 yr old girl who is in an insane asylum. She is also a poet. And a virgin. Oh, and a badass.
So, there are two guys from the two different places that will do anything to win her to their side. She falls in love with them, but won't choose because of reasons.
That's right, all of the cool ideas for this interesting world and it evolves into an angsty YA novel with a love triangle.
No. Just no.
January 9, 2016
Five stars is not nearly enough for this book. Firstlife deserves all the stars in the world. I truly believe this is Gena's best work and I am not exaggerating. I love everything she writes, I'm a huge fan, but Firstlife was from another dimension, she surprised me again and again. This is a book you do not want to miss, trust me. It'll shake you to the core and you'll never see things the same way again.
The grave is the endI am so grateful to have been able to read an early copy, I didn't quite know what to expect, I knew it was going to be different but I was not prepared for how tremendously unique, complex and beautifully written Firstlife was.
And I will never accept that
I have been set free from the chains that bind me.
I know
"Death has lost its victory"
Is a lie, because there is no greater truth than this:
"Life is hopeless"
Firstlife is a bit complicated to explain in a few words and without giving anything away so I think you should read the official synopsis. It explains things pretty well.
I've never, in my life, cried as much as I did while reading a book. Never. And I'm an emotional person, I cry fairly easily but Firstlife completely undid me. I'm emotionally drained, I think Gena ruined me. She is an exceptional writer, I just don't know how she does it. I felt so much while reading, so much. Each word is deeply rooted in my soul.
Gena's inspiration for this book was the scriptures, life vs. death, light vs. dark, peace vs. war, having free will and choosing your own side. I've read the bible and I found Firstlife even more interesting and intricate. I am not saying you have to read the bible to actually enjoy and understand this book, not at all but, for me, personally, having that knowledge really enhanced the experience. I spotted lots of things that clearly made me think of a specific verse etc and I loved it!
Once again, you do not have to know the bible or anything religious to actually love and understand Firstlife, not at all. Gena wrote this book for everybody, this is my personal reading experience.
I absolutely loved Ten, the heroine. She intrigued me from the start, she's a very special character. I loved her obsession with numbers, Gena really did her research with this, she deserves an award for this alone. All the numerical facts were super interesting and made the story even better and Ten's character even more peculiar. Gena wrote such a strong heroine, Ten is selfless, always willing to help, she's smart and knows how to throw a good punch. She doesn't have an easy life, you will discover this right from the start but she never gives up, she has hope and, yes, she can be stubborn but it only makes her more endearing.
"You, the he-man, will teach me how to fight. Me, a little girl with little might. But what you don't know about this lass is that she's super determined to kick your ass."Killian, the love interest and the ultimate bad boy: dark hair, piercing eyes, tattoos...I totally fell for him and hard. I remember the first time I read about him, I was already fanning myself and drooling all over the book and he hadn't said more than two words. Killian is Ten's laborer from Myriad (the "dark" side)—a laborer is someone whose job is to recruit people, convince them to pledge their lives to their realm and so, when the person dies (Firstdeath), she goes to live in that realm forever—and he's ready to use his manly charms to convince her to pledge her life to Myriad. I loved his cocky attitude, his confidence no matter the situation but what I loved most was his character's development. He became real with Ten, showing her his true self, he was vulnerable and I absolutely adored them together.
He presses his forehead against mine and cups my nape, his thumb stroking up, into my hair and down, under the collar of my shirt.Archer, my sweet beautiful Archer. He's the light to Killian's dark. Don't be fooled though, he's as badass and fierce as our bad boy. Archer is Ten's laborer from Troika (the "light" side), he's after Ten for the same reason as Killian, he wants to recruit her but nothing is that easy with little miss numbers. I loved Archer so much, as much as Killian but differently. Killian is the love interest and Archer is the big brother, the one you can count on, always. The one who will do anything to protect you and care for you and that's exactly how Ten sees him and how he sees Ten, as a sister. Their bond was beautiful and I love Gena for not writing another annoying love triangle.
"I don't just want you," he says. "I want you."
"And I don't understand the difference," I tell him honestly. Even still, his admission makes me tingle.
"The first I can easily walk away from. The second...you make me feel—you make me feel."
"You, Archer Prince, think I’m great, so much better than the numbers six, seven, eight. Even nine! Because it’s time, it’s time, it’s time you faced facts—life without me seriously lacks. And before you get huffy and try to deny it, there’s something I should probably admit. I guess I love you, even though you’re a pain. But I’m pretty sure that means…I’m completely insane."Firstlife is full of surprises, Gena surpassed herself with this one. Twists after twists, you won't see them coming. The world, or worlds, Gena created are incredible. Everything is so well written, Ten writes poems and I've highlighted them all because they're actually so beautiful and meaningful. I love Gena's writing style but there was something more in this book, it made the story even more vivid to me, I could see everything clearly in my head, I felt everything Gena wrote. There are so many things I'd like to say, I can't really express how I truly feel, you just have to experience it for yourself, don't hesitate to dive in. Firstlife is a book I'll hold forever close to my heart.
Ten tears fall, and I call. Nine hundred trees, but only one is for me. Eight times eight times eight they fly, whatever you do, don't stay dry. Seven ladies dancing, ignore their sweet romancing. Six seconds to hide, up, up, and you'll survive. Five times four times three, and that is where he'll be. Two I'll save, I'll be brave, brave, brave. The one I adore, I'll come back for.
February 21, 2016
Initial Thoughts: DNF - I just can't go on anymore. Unnecessarily complex, yet another world that didn't make sense, unlikable main character who refuses to sign towards one of the main factions for no reason. All delivered with choppy writing.
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This review appears on Happy Indulgence. Check it out for more reviews!
Going into Firstlife, I was optimistic about the two lives concept, where you have two chances to live. Myriad believes in wealth and reincarnation, that your first life is merely a rehearsal before reaping the rewards in the afterlife. They believe that your soul is reborn after your second death. Troika, believes that both lives matter as much as each other, and after your second death, you are laid to rest.
This concept was immediately familiar to me, resembling on a basic level, religions that exist in our world. Except here, Myriad and Troika are constantly at war with one another, wanting to recruit as many people into their cause as possible. And membership is mandatory to boost their ranks for war (yet there still happens to be Unsigned, who aren’t aligned to a faction).
What didn’t make sense to me, was why these different groups were constantly at odds with each other. Sure, they have different beliefs, but I didn’t really feel the source of their conflict, other than fighting over people to join them. In Firstlife, all these operatives and ‘friends’ will pop up who rattle on about the benefits of their group. Why are they so adamant on turning Ten into just another statistic? We’re given the excuse of power, without much explanation.
The world building was filled with holes and questions I needed answered, and even halfway through things did not become clearer. If the unsigned were so rare, why bother injecting so many resources into them? And if people are not born into a faction, and they don’t really have a choice, how is it monitored? Troika will accept verbal confirmations but how do you really know who is who?
All these concepts are infodumped to you at the start of the book, with the reader expecting to pick up the finer details from the character’s conversations. I struggled to find the difference between Troika and Myriad, who were just as ruthless as each other. They’d both go into extreme lengths and resources just to get their way, including scare tactics, torture and intimidation.
While Ten was a feisty character who constantly challenged her situation, I couldn’t connect to her character at all. I needed more details on why she vehemently refuse to join a faction – even choosing to be tortured instead. This was a major focus of the story, but we weren’t given any details on her motivations. Apparently she’s not the sort of girl who goes for looks – but of course this goes out the window when the extremely handsome Killian, who could double as a magazine cover model, steps into the picture.
Killian is of course, instantly in love with Ten and how she’s ‘different from other girls’ *cough*special snowflake. I couldn’t really pick up on his motivations, despite knowing they were shady. I much preferred the sassy and confident Bow, who becomes fast friends with Ten, but who also has motivations of her own.
After reading about halfway, I really struggled to grasp my head around the different groups and their motivations behind trying to recruit Ten. A love triangle also came out unexpectedly, which detracted from the already confusing plot. But the largest detractor was the writing, which was choppy and difficult to get into. It’s like everyone’s speaking a different language that only they understand, alienating you as the reader.
I really couldn’t get into Firstlife. Without the choppy writing, I probably could have pushed through to see if some of my questions were answered for the world building. The different lives concept wasn’t that unique after all, based on religions we already know, and not built all that well. But when I got halfway through and things still weren’t making sense or grabbing me, that’s when I decided to call it quits.
I received a review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
---
This review appears on Happy Indulgence. Check it out for more reviews!
Going into Firstlife, I was optimistic about the two lives concept, where you have two chances to live. Myriad believes in wealth and reincarnation, that your first life is merely a rehearsal before reaping the rewards in the afterlife. They believe that your soul is reborn after your second death. Troika, believes that both lives matter as much as each other, and after your second death, you are laid to rest.
This concept was immediately familiar to me, resembling on a basic level, religions that exist in our world. Except here, Myriad and Troika are constantly at war with one another, wanting to recruit as many people into their cause as possible. And membership is mandatory to boost their ranks for war (yet there still happens to be Unsigned, who aren’t aligned to a faction).
What didn’t make sense to me, was why these different groups were constantly at odds with each other. Sure, they have different beliefs, but I didn’t really feel the source of their conflict, other than fighting over people to join them. In Firstlife, all these operatives and ‘friends’ will pop up who rattle on about the benefits of their group. Why are they so adamant on turning Ten into just another statistic? We’re given the excuse of power, without much explanation.
The world building was filled with holes and questions I needed answered, and even halfway through things did not become clearer. If the unsigned were so rare, why bother injecting so many resources into them? And if people are not born into a faction, and they don’t really have a choice, how is it monitored? Troika will accept verbal confirmations but how do you really know who is who?
All these concepts are infodumped to you at the start of the book, with the reader expecting to pick up the finer details from the character’s conversations. I struggled to find the difference between Troika and Myriad, who were just as ruthless as each other. They’d both go into extreme lengths and resources just to get their way, including scare tactics, torture and intimidation.
While Ten was a feisty character who constantly challenged her situation, I couldn’t connect to her character at all. I needed more details on why she vehemently refuse to join a faction – even choosing to be tortured instead. This was a major focus of the story, but we weren’t given any details on her motivations. Apparently she’s not the sort of girl who goes for looks – but of course this goes out the window when the extremely handsome Killian, who could double as a magazine cover model, steps into the picture.
Killian is of course, instantly in love with Ten and how she’s ‘different from other girls’ *cough*special snowflake. I couldn’t really pick up on his motivations, despite knowing they were shady. I much preferred the sassy and confident Bow, who becomes fast friends with Ten, but who also has motivations of her own.
After reading about halfway, I really struggled to grasp my head around the different groups and their motivations behind trying to recruit Ten. A love triangle also came out unexpectedly, which detracted from the already confusing plot. But the largest detractor was the writing, which was choppy and difficult to get into. It’s like everyone’s speaking a different language that only they understand, alienating you as the reader.
I really couldn’t get into Firstlife. Without the choppy writing, I probably could have pushed through to see if some of my questions were answered for the world building. The different lives concept wasn’t that unique after all, based on religions we already know, and not built all that well. But when I got halfway through and things still weren’t making sense or grabbing me, that’s when I decided to call it quits.
I received a review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
March 19, 2017
Very interesting premise, that had me entranced for the first half. Soon however this turned into one of the most disappointing books I have ever read. Talk about bait and switch. I loved the originality of this story but it felt “off ” a lot of the time. Nothing really meshed together, the writing... I couldn't tell if my struggle to enjoy this was a cause of the author trying too hard or not trying hard enough.
The characters were also supposed to be in their late teens, yet they had the mentality and dialogue of young children. This was especially at odds with some of the more brutal scenes in the book. However even such scenes were not all that squeamish due to the over-the-top nature of much of the action.
It's like how I am usually pretty wimpy when it comes to gory movies, but I have no problem watching most Quentin Tarantino movies because its just like watching ketchup spout from a bottle. There are many other issues I had with the story, the insta-love, the romanticizing of abusive relationships, the pointless stubbornness of the main character for no point other than to extend the number of pages.
It felt as though the author was just trying to fill a word count at times. Rather than rant anymore however I will simply let the book speak for itself, in the form of multiple quotes below the spoiler tag. Note that there are some spoilers in the quotes.
Some parts are even worse than the above listed, but I have to stop somewhere. Don't even get me started on Ten's “poems”
Buy, Borrow or Bin Verdict: Burn
Check out more of my reviews here
The characters were also supposed to be in their late teens, yet they had the mentality and dialogue of young children. This was especially at odds with some of the more brutal scenes in the book. However even such scenes were not all that squeamish due to the over-the-top nature of much of the action.
It's like how I am usually pretty wimpy when it comes to gory movies, but I have no problem watching most Quentin Tarantino movies because its just like watching ketchup spout from a bottle. There are many other issues I had with the story, the insta-love, the romanticizing of abusive relationships, the pointless stubbornness of the main character for no point other than to extend the number of pages.
It felt as though the author was just trying to fill a word count at times. Rather than rant anymore however I will simply let the book speak for itself, in the form of multiple quotes below the spoiler tag. Note that there are some spoilers in the quotes.
Some parts are even worse than the above listed, but I have to stop somewhere. Don't even get me started on Ten's “poems”
Buy, Borrow or Bin Verdict: Burn
Check out more of my reviews here
October 12, 2016
2.75! Video review to come
February 11, 2016
Believe it or not this is my first Showater book and I could literally kick my own butt beccause of it. To say the very least, I fell in love with her imaginative world, her endearing but tough characters, and the whole world she created and it makes me wonder why I waited so very long to try her.
This book is a hard one to go into detail about without spoiling anything so I will keep this review short and sweet and stick to the basics.
This is a series you don't want to miss out on.
If you are tired of the same old same old and want something different, fun, and that will stand out while still being well written and completely entertaining, you need to pick up this series.
No love triangles, not daunting whoa is me mean girls, or Mary Sues, this series has a touch of romance, a whole lot of action, three highly kick butt characters, and a whole lot of imagination.
Set in a world like is both futuristic and sci fi, this book had me hooked from the very first chapter and it only got better as it went.
A stunning new series that will blow you away and leave you begging for more.
*ARC copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
This book is a hard one to go into detail about without spoiling anything so I will keep this review short and sweet and stick to the basics.
This is a series you don't want to miss out on.
If you are tired of the same old same old and want something different, fun, and that will stand out while still being well written and completely entertaining, you need to pick up this series.
No love triangles, not daunting whoa is me mean girls, or Mary Sues, this series has a touch of romance, a whole lot of action, three highly kick butt characters, and a whole lot of imagination.
Set in a world like is both futuristic and sci fi, this book had me hooked from the very first chapter and it only got better as it went.
A stunning new series that will blow you away and leave you begging for more.
*ARC copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
Read
January 27, 2023Dialogue/humor = perfection. I will admit that I'm still la bit lost on some of the events/world building (or maybe I just kept zoning out during audiobook?) but the writing was just so good I didn't care. This is the first time I've read anything by Gena and now I'm adding all her books to my TBR because she has such great humor in her writing -I can't even count the number of times I laughed out loud listening to the audiobook, just the perfect amount of sarcasm and snark. Oh, and the characters were all compelling for different reasons -I loved every single one of 'em, and I didn't even mind the love triangle (if it was a triangle? too early to tell since she clearly prefers Killian from day one).
March 17, 2016
Tenley "Ten" Lockwood has spent the last thirteen months of the seventeen years of her life in an asylum. She was sent there by her parents for not making covenant with Myriad, the realm her parents want her to side with in the afterlife. See, it's an accepted fact that Firstlife is simply a rehearsal for what comes after death. In your real life, your Everlife, you sign with one of the two ruling powers: Myriad or Troika. Myriad and Troika, deadly enemies, have been at war with one another for centuries and each attempts to recruit humans to tip the scales to their side. Both realms are willing to do anything to recruit Ten to get her on their side and each sends one of their top Laborers to win her over her eternal soul. Ten knows she can't trust anyone, but she realizes she may be falling for one of the boys sent to sign her soul to their realm - and he may not belong to the realm she's drawn to. All she has to do is survive long enough to make a decision.
The concept behind Gena Showalter's Firstlife piqued my interest from the moment I heard of its release - the idea of multiple lives and that you know what the afterlife entails from the get-go - and look at the cover. It's fantastic. However, I did not like the execution of this novel at all - in fact, I couldn't bring myself to make it beyond page sixty-five, the second chapter. I have plenty of other books I'd prefer to spend my time reading, and hopefully enjoying, rather than continue here for another four hundred pages. Here are the main aspects that I didn't like: the infodumping, the special snowflake syndrome, the (assumed) love triangle, and my disconnect from the main characters.
For the most part, all of what I made it through is a giant infodump giving us the basics of the Everlife and who's who. It gets a little exhausting getting so much dropped at your feet all at once, especially when a good deal of it comes across as needlessly vague. I had a hard time telling the difference between Myraid and Troika. Although each has its own core values, those are constantly being undermined by the other side's propaganda. Both are willing to go to any lengths to claim victory to the point that the reader doesn't even know what to think. Not to mention that Archer Prince, the Troika Laborer sent to sign Tenley's soul to his realm, doesn't actually seem to embody any of the characteristics associated with his side.
Now, for some reason, Tenley is a special snowflake. Supposedly, she will be able to turn the tide of the war for either side. Honestly, I have absolutely no idea why she's the most important soul currently living her Firstlife on Earth. I also have no idea why either side is willing to go to such great lengths to get her on their side, even after such a huge infodump. Also, I have absolutely no clue as to why she wouldn't have made any kind of decision in the first place. As far as I can tell, she could be doing it to spite her parents. If that's the case though, she can't be in her right mind to undergo torture and watch her friends die - just make up your mind already, or clue me in as to what you're trying to accomplish!
If you couldn't tell, I just felt so disconnected from her and everyone else - like I was missing something vitally important about everyone. By the way, I fully expect there would have been a love triangle if I had continued on with this story between Tenley, Archer, and Killian (the Myriad Laborer). I can just imagine how that could have gone - I mean, if she can't make up her mind to save her own life, how in the world is she going to decide between two boys.
Overall, I definitely preferred the concept and the cover to the first two chapters. I gave Firstlife a shot, but unfortunately it just wasn't for me. However, I would like to try this author again - eventually I would like to pick up Alice in Zombieland and see if I have any luck there.
Final verdict:
I was hoping for something more like this:
But by the time I was ready to quit, I felt like this:
Basically what I'm trying to say here:
The concept behind Gena Showalter's Firstlife piqued my interest from the moment I heard of its release - the idea of multiple lives and that you know what the afterlife entails from the get-go - and look at the cover. It's fantastic. However, I did not like the execution of this novel at all - in fact, I couldn't bring myself to make it beyond page sixty-five, the second chapter. I have plenty of other books I'd prefer to spend my time reading, and hopefully enjoying, rather than continue here for another four hundred pages. Here are the main aspects that I didn't like: the infodumping, the special snowflake syndrome, the (assumed) love triangle, and my disconnect from the main characters.
For the most part, all of what I made it through is a giant infodump giving us the basics of the Everlife and who's who. It gets a little exhausting getting so much dropped at your feet all at once, especially when a good deal of it comes across as needlessly vague. I had a hard time telling the difference between Myraid and Troika. Although each has its own core values, those are constantly being undermined by the other side's propaganda. Both are willing to go to any lengths to claim victory to the point that the reader doesn't even know what to think. Not to mention that Archer Prince, the Troika Laborer sent to sign Tenley's soul to his realm, doesn't actually seem to embody any of the characteristics associated with his side.
Now, for some reason, Tenley is a special snowflake. Supposedly, she will be able to turn the tide of the war for either side. Honestly, I have absolutely no idea why she's the most important soul currently living her Firstlife on Earth. I also have no idea why either side is willing to go to such great lengths to get her on their side, even after such a huge infodump. Also, I have absolutely no clue as to why she wouldn't have made any kind of decision in the first place. As far as I can tell, she could be doing it to spite her parents. If that's the case though, she can't be in her right mind to undergo torture and watch her friends die - just make up your mind already, or clue me in as to what you're trying to accomplish!
If you couldn't tell, I just felt so disconnected from her and everyone else - like I was missing something vitally important about everyone. By the way, I fully expect there would have been a love triangle if I had continued on with this story between Tenley, Archer, and Killian (the Myriad Laborer). I can just imagine how that could have gone - I mean, if she can't make up her mind to save her own life, how in the world is she going to decide between two boys.
Overall, I definitely preferred the concept and the cover to the first two chapters. I gave Firstlife a shot, but unfortunately it just wasn't for me. However, I would like to try this author again - eventually I would like to pick up Alice in Zombieland and see if I have any luck there.
Final verdict:
I was hoping for something more like this:
But by the time I was ready to quit, I felt like this:
Basically what I'm trying to say here:
August 8, 2018
Actual Rating: 1.5 stars
Repetitive and objectiveness. There are too many missing things here to be cohesive or engaging.
I have to say that the cover is great, though. It really gets your attention.
Repetitive and objectiveness. There are too many missing things here to be cohesive or engaging.
I have to say that the cover is great, though. It really gets your attention.
February 25, 2018
DNF at 60%
I really can’t be bothered wasting my time reading about a main character who literally! thinks! in! exclamation! marks! and makes the most illogical decisions ever :)) I tried to ignore it y’all I really did but I just can’t, the main character irritates me so much I give up. I hardly ever DNF books and I honestly think this story had so much potential if the writing style had been a bit better and the main character more sensible 🌚
I really can’t be bothered wasting my time reading about a main character who literally! thinks! in! exclamation! marks! and makes the most illogical decisions ever :)) I tried to ignore it y’all I really did but I just can’t, the main character irritates me so much I give up. I hardly ever DNF books and I honestly think this story had so much potential if the writing style had been a bit better and the main character more sensible 🌚
May 20, 2022
✅ Concept
✅ Secondary characters
✅ Action
✅🆗 Main character
✅🆗 Plot and pace
3.5 stars
I think this is a love it or hate it kind of book, I saw a lot of DNF and 1-star reviews for Firstlife, but I liked it.
In Firstlife, once a human dies, he enters his second life in Troika, the realm of light, love, and justice, or in Myriad, the land of self-indulgence, individualism, and ruled by impulses and emotions... Tenley Lockwood is special, she has the potential to be a decisive player in both realm, whoever gets her might win the war that has been going on for decades. For this reason, her parents (signed with Myriad) have a lot of pressure for her to sign with Myriad and they decide to send her off into an asylum/prison to be tortured until she decides to sign with Myriad.
This book is basically about Ten being tortured in the asylum/prison and then being fought over by laborers (workers) from Troika and Myriad. The thing is, she cannot decide where she wants to go. She does not feel that she really belongs in one realm, she likes different aspects of both realms.
I really liked the characters in this book, they are tough and clever and they keep us on our toes. We can't really be sure of their intention at the beginning, we are not sure who is trying to help Ten and who is in it for personal benefits and it was a plus for me. There is no love at first sight, no love-triangle, no kickass mean girl or macho man, the characters have flaws and they make bad decisions.
I admit that the main character can be irritating. She is really stubborn and that's not a bad thing, but when she is put in a life or death situation or when other people are threatened and she still sticks to her "I don't really know where I belong, this is a big life-changing decision, I don't think I'm ready to choose, I'm anxious, what should I do?". Also, a part of me was amazed by how logical she was about everything, I would probably be the kind to pick Troika just out of spite because my parents sent me into an asylum to be tortured.
I realize that this review is not very precise, but it's hard to say more about the book without revealing too many details...
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✅ Secondary characters
✅ Action
✅🆗 Main character
✅🆗 Plot and pace
3.5 stars
I think this is a love it or hate it kind of book, I saw a lot of DNF and 1-star reviews for Firstlife, but I liked it.
In Firstlife, once a human dies, he enters his second life in Troika, the realm of light, love, and justice, or in Myriad, the land of self-indulgence, individualism, and ruled by impulses and emotions... Tenley Lockwood is special, she has the potential to be a decisive player in both realm, whoever gets her might win the war that has been going on for decades. For this reason, her parents (signed with Myriad) have a lot of pressure for her to sign with Myriad and they decide to send her off into an asylum/prison to be tortured until she decides to sign with Myriad.
This book is basically about Ten being tortured in the asylum/prison and then being fought over by laborers (workers) from Troika and Myriad. The thing is, she cannot decide where she wants to go. She does not feel that she really belongs in one realm, she likes different aspects of both realms.
I really liked the characters in this book, they are tough and clever and they keep us on our toes. We can't really be sure of their intention at the beginning, we are not sure who is trying to help Ten and who is in it for personal benefits and it was a plus for me. There is no love at first sight, no love-triangle, no kickass mean girl or macho man, the characters have flaws and they make bad decisions.
I admit that the main character can be irritating. She is really stubborn and that's not a bad thing, but when she is put in a life or death situation or when other people are threatened and she still sticks to her "I don't really know where I belong, this is a big life-changing decision, I don't think I'm ready to choose, I'm anxious, what should I do?". Also, a part of me was amazed by how logical she was about everything, I would probably be the kind to pick Troika just out of spite because my parents sent me into an asylum to be tortured.
I realize that this review is not very precise, but it's hard to say more about the book without revealing too many details...
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June 26, 2024
When I first started to read this book, I knew I would love it.
This book is one of a kind, different from everything I have read so far.
I absolutely loved the characters and how they are built, some I wanted to kill, some I loved it all my heart (Asher💕), and one that I wanted to hate but LOVE with all my heart too (Killian), and of course that's Ten, who I admire for the strength she got and how she could admit to herself what she was feeling and of course she is my favorite character of the book.
The book is filled with adventure, love, friendship, hate, intrigues, power, pain, and revenge.
This book is definitely the definition of unputdownable.
This book is one of a kind, different from everything I have read so far.
I absolutely loved the characters and how they are built, some I wanted to kill, some I loved it all my heart (Asher💕), and one that I wanted to hate but LOVE with all my heart too (Killian), and of course that's Ten, who I admire for the strength she got and how she could admit to herself what she was feeling and of course she is my favorite character of the book.
The book is filled with adventure, love, friendship, hate, intrigues, power, pain, and revenge.
This book is definitely the definition of unputdownable.
July 7, 2020
Firstlife by Gena Showalter
1st book in a trilogy. Young adult dystopian fantasy.
Extensive world building. Extreme torture of the heroine trying to force her to make a decision for her Second life. Underhanded manipulations and deceiving friendships.
Basically a super dark story where the heroine is under constant pressure and hardships in her “first” life on earth. Next book will be based on her decision as the worlds war.
1st book in a trilogy. Young adult dystopian fantasy.
Extensive world building. Extreme torture of the heroine trying to force her to make a decision for her Second life. Underhanded manipulations and deceiving friendships.
Basically a super dark story where the heroine is under constant pressure and hardships in her “first” life on earth. Next book will be based on her decision as the worlds war.
September 30, 2016
DNF @20%.
Especial snowflake girl.
Bad boy love interest.
Love triangle.
No, thanks.
Especial snowflake girl.
Bad boy love interest.
Love triangle.
No, thanks.
June 12, 2018
TEN – heißt eigentlich Tenley und ist 17. Sie fristet ihre Tage zu Beginn des Buches in einer „Besserungsanstalt“ für Jugendliche, die nicht angepasst reagieren. Tenley ist die Protagonistin dieses Buches – und hier liegt auch schon mein erstes Problem: Ich mag sie nicht. Das liegt nicht nur an der mir fremden Affinität zu Zahlen (Ich war schon immer eine Mathe-Niete), sondern auch an ihrem schwankenden Charakter. Eigentlich ist sie unglaublich tough und schlagfertig (was ich echt mag) – im nächsten Moment ängstlich und unsicher (was teilweise echt unbegründet ist), und sobald ein gewisser arroganter Schönling auf der Bildfläche erscheint weicht ihr Hirn total auf und sie ist die absolute Tussi (was zum schreien nervig ist). Kann man das mit „normalen“ Teenager-Allüren erklären? Ich sage: Nein. Aber gut – man muss nicht Jeden mögen – bei der Hauptfigur ist eine Abneigung aber immer leicht hinderlich…
Der Weltenaufbau ist neu – es gibt ein erstes Leben auf der Erde und ein zweites, wichtigeres, ewiges Leben in einer Art Himmel/Hölle Konstrukt. Troika ist hier eine Art tugendhafter Himmel und Myriad die Spaß-Hölle. Ten ist eine Unbestimmte, das bedeutet, sie hat sich noch entschieden bei welcher Seite sie für ihr Leben nach dem Tod unterzeichnen will – das macht sie für beide Seiten zum Objekt der Begierde (in wahrsten Sinne des Wortes)…
Archer – ist der Agent für Troika, der auf Tenley angesetzt wird. Er ist mein Lieblings-Charakter! Ein wenig typisch bester Freund – wäre er schwul, wäre das Klischee perfekt – dafür sind seine Sprüche jedoch viel zu eindeutig …
Das bringt mich zu einem weiteren Kritikpunkt: Vor allem in der ersten Hälfte ist die Sprache und der Umgang in der Anstalt sehr vulgär. Das ist meiner Meinung nicht nur unpassend für die Zielgruppe, sondern auch einfach unschön zu lesen.
Killian – ist der Hell-Boy in der Runde – der Agent für Myriad. Arrogant, sexy – wieder das klassische Bad-Boy Klischee – wäre da nicht eine Entwicklung im Laufe des Buches, die mir durchaus gefiel.
Das Setting und der Weltenaufbau weisen Lücken und Schwachstellen auf. Manches wird im Verlauf noch klarer, anderes fällt schlichtweg hinten über. Das mag ich nicht. Da reagiere ich als doch schon recht erfahrene Testleserin allergisch. Wenn ich mich ständig fragen muss, warum das so ist oder warum jenes nun wieder keinen Sinn ergibt, kann ich mich nicht richtig auf die Story konzentrieren.
Der Stil von Gena Showalter hingegen ist toll, bzw. zumindest die Übersetzerin Tess Martin hat hier sehr gute Arbeit geleistet – das Original kenne ich ja nicht. Das Buch liest sich flüssig, die Sprache ist spritzig. Und ein Hingucker ist es dank des wunderschönen Covers allemal!
Der erste Band der momentan auf mindestens 3 Bände ausgelegten Reihe endet mit einem ordentlichen Cliffhanger – ich bin noch unschlüssig, ob ich Tenley in ihr Ewigleben folgen will, neugierig wie es weiter geht bin ich ja schon…
Mein Fazit: Ein Buch das durchaus unterhalten kann wenn man nicht so pingelig alles hinterfragt, man zahlenaffine Mädels mag und was für die Badepausen am See sucht. Ich vergebe 4 von 5 Lieblingslesesessel.
Der Weltenaufbau ist neu – es gibt ein erstes Leben auf der Erde und ein zweites, wichtigeres, ewiges Leben in einer Art Himmel/Hölle Konstrukt. Troika ist hier eine Art tugendhafter Himmel und Myriad die Spaß-Hölle. Ten ist eine Unbestimmte, das bedeutet, sie hat sich noch entschieden bei welcher Seite sie für ihr Leben nach dem Tod unterzeichnen will – das macht sie für beide Seiten zum Objekt der Begierde (in wahrsten Sinne des Wortes)…
Archer – ist der Agent für Troika, der auf Tenley angesetzt wird. Er ist mein Lieblings-Charakter! Ein wenig typisch bester Freund – wäre er schwul, wäre das Klischee perfekt – dafür sind seine Sprüche jedoch viel zu eindeutig …
Das bringt mich zu einem weiteren Kritikpunkt: Vor allem in der ersten Hälfte ist die Sprache und der Umgang in der Anstalt sehr vulgär. Das ist meiner Meinung nicht nur unpassend für die Zielgruppe, sondern auch einfach unschön zu lesen.
Killian – ist der Hell-Boy in der Runde – der Agent für Myriad. Arrogant, sexy – wieder das klassische Bad-Boy Klischee – wäre da nicht eine Entwicklung im Laufe des Buches, die mir durchaus gefiel.
Das Setting und der Weltenaufbau weisen Lücken und Schwachstellen auf. Manches wird im Verlauf noch klarer, anderes fällt schlichtweg hinten über. Das mag ich nicht. Da reagiere ich als doch schon recht erfahrene Testleserin allergisch. Wenn ich mich ständig fragen muss, warum das so ist oder warum jenes nun wieder keinen Sinn ergibt, kann ich mich nicht richtig auf die Story konzentrieren.
Der Stil von Gena Showalter hingegen ist toll, bzw. zumindest die Übersetzerin Tess Martin hat hier sehr gute Arbeit geleistet – das Original kenne ich ja nicht. Das Buch liest sich flüssig, die Sprache ist spritzig. Und ein Hingucker ist es dank des wunderschönen Covers allemal!
Der erste Band der momentan auf mindestens 3 Bände ausgelegten Reihe endet mit einem ordentlichen Cliffhanger – ich bin noch unschlüssig, ob ich Tenley in ihr Ewigleben folgen will, neugierig wie es weiter geht bin ich ja schon…
Mein Fazit: Ein Buch das durchaus unterhalten kann wenn man nicht so pingelig alles hinterfragt, man zahlenaffine Mädels mag und was für die Badepausen am See sucht. Ich vergebe 4 von 5 Lieblingslesesessel.
January 3, 2021
This was just what I needed to get out of my year-long reading slump!
I was nervous to read this, seeing as I didn’t enjoy Showalter’s previous YA novel, Alice in Zombieland (not a fan of zombies), but I was pleasantly suprised! If you like Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi and Scythe by Neal Shusterman, you’ll absolutely love this because it’s just perfect. One of my new favorites.
I was nervous to read this, seeing as I didn’t enjoy Showalter’s previous YA novel, Alice in Zombieland (not a fan of zombies), but I was pleasantly suprised! If you like Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi and Scythe by Neal Shusterman, you’ll absolutely love this because it’s just perfect. One of my new favorites.
March 31, 2016
An Electronic Advanced Reader Copy was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for review.
Tenley or as she's nicknamed Ten is locked up in a mental asylum by her Myriad parents. She lives in a world your first life is just a pre-condition, where you must choose one or the other warring factions: Myriad or Trokian. Once a person vows one of the sides they are part of that lifestyle for all eternity. Both sides want her for she is supposedly a general in her second life. She meets two boys, both are enemies, both are vying for her attention. Will she leave the first life undecided or will she choose with her heart or her brain?
I can say a lot of things about characters, and I haven't been annoyed by a character this much since Anastasia Steele in FSOG. Only because the excessive counting of numbers and mathematical equations in her head were super annoying. Sure she has a love of numbers but yikes I kept getting interrupted from the story by this excessive need to count. Then there's the fact that Ten also uses recent street slang and colloquiums that are found in our society today, which made me wonder what year it was. Because their technology is a lot more advanced but I couldn't guess what year it was so I naturally went with it. It was superbly annoying! I don't understand why she trying to be so jokey when it felt so flat. Ten also couldn't stop swooning over the boys. I know hormones are all a rage, but please try to focus on something other than a beautiful face. I just couldn't relate or understand Ten's character. It also felt that she was dragging her decision for the entire book. At least I finished this a second time around only to find out which side she chooses.
I knew which team I was on from the very beginning. All signs pointed to him and I actually liked him because he felt genuine. The other guy is your typical bad boy who is aggressive and sure and strong. Naturally I wasn't on his team at all. Their dynamics were interesting and so was their history. I was surprised that I actually liked it when all three appeared on the page.
So there's the whole plot which involves which side she'll choose. And which boy she'll end up loving.. That was it. The entire book is her trying to survive or die trying, it was intensely boring which is why I DNF'd it. The writing isn't bad, but when you get a main character that is annoying you at every thought, it's hard to like.
Honestly, I'm not going to end up continuing on with this series. The pacing and dialogue were too cringeworthy and boring all at the same time. The last few chapters made up for it, but honestly when only the likable character I like ends up being *blank blank*, it's hard to like it or stay with it.
RATING 2/5
QUOTES
"Pretty can hide a monster."
"You're smart, and you make me think."
"Remember, the truth hurts for a little while. Lies hurt forever."
"Physical pain will never compare to mental anguish."
"Can no one like me just because I'm me? Will I always be a commodity to win rather than a person to love?"
"Friends have the power to hurt you in ways enemies never can."
"Someone else's actions will never decide my own."
"To love is to have a reason to fight for something better."
"If happiness is dependent on outside variables, it can't last. Variables always change. Real happiness has to come from within."
"Only three words are good enough. Delicious man meat."
"Holding on to the past prevents you from grabbing on to a better future."
"I thought you were the most beautiful boy I'd ever seen...and that I'd better invest in a chastity belt."
"You're just making things harder for me. And I mean that in multiple ways."
"There's a difference between wanting to do something and knowing I need to do it."
"Just because we can't see the solution doesn't mean there's no solution at all."
"There is no greater evil than the one that cloaks itself in virtue."
Tenley or as she's nicknamed Ten is locked up in a mental asylum by her Myriad parents. She lives in a world your first life is just a pre-condition, where you must choose one or the other warring factions: Myriad or Trokian. Once a person vows one of the sides they are part of that lifestyle for all eternity. Both sides want her for she is supposedly a general in her second life. She meets two boys, both are enemies, both are vying for her attention. Will she leave the first life undecided or will she choose with her heart or her brain?
I can say a lot of things about characters, and I haven't been annoyed by a character this much since Anastasia Steele in FSOG. Only because the excessive counting of numbers and mathematical equations in her head were super annoying. Sure she has a love of numbers but yikes I kept getting interrupted from the story by this excessive need to count. Then there's the fact that Ten also uses recent street slang and colloquiums that are found in our society today, which made me wonder what year it was. Because their technology is a lot more advanced but I couldn't guess what year it was so I naturally went with it. It was superbly annoying! I don't understand why she trying to be so jokey when it felt so flat. Ten also couldn't stop swooning over the boys. I know hormones are all a rage, but please try to focus on something other than a beautiful face. I just couldn't relate or understand Ten's character. It also felt that she was dragging her decision for the entire book. At least I finished this a second time around only to find out which side she chooses.
I knew which team I was on from the very beginning. All signs pointed to him and I actually liked him because he felt genuine. The other guy is your typical bad boy who is aggressive and sure and strong. Naturally I wasn't on his team at all. Their dynamics were interesting and so was their history. I was surprised that I actually liked it when all three appeared on the page.
So there's the whole plot which involves which side she'll choose. And which boy she'll end up loving.. That was it. The entire book is her trying to survive or die trying, it was intensely boring which is why I DNF'd it. The writing isn't bad, but when you get a main character that is annoying you at every thought, it's hard to like.
Honestly, I'm not going to end up continuing on with this series. The pacing and dialogue were too cringeworthy and boring all at the same time. The last few chapters made up for it, but honestly when only the likable character I like ends up being *blank blank*, it's hard to like it or stay with it.
RATING 2/5
QUOTES
"Pretty can hide a monster."
"You're smart, and you make me think."
"Remember, the truth hurts for a little while. Lies hurt forever."
"Physical pain will never compare to mental anguish."
"Can no one like me just because I'm me? Will I always be a commodity to win rather than a person to love?"
"Friends have the power to hurt you in ways enemies never can."
"Someone else's actions will never decide my own."
"To love is to have a reason to fight for something better."
"If happiness is dependent on outside variables, it can't last. Variables always change. Real happiness has to come from within."
"Only three words are good enough. Delicious man meat."
"Holding on to the past prevents you from grabbing on to a better future."
"I thought you were the most beautiful boy I'd ever seen...and that I'd better invest in a chastity belt."
"You're just making things harder for me. And I mean that in multiple ways."
"There's a difference between wanting to do something and knowing I need to do it."
"Just because we can't see the solution doesn't mean there's no solution at all."
"There is no greater evil than the one that cloaks itself in virtue."
did-not-finish
June 21, 2017Too much profanity and inappropriate remarks in the first fifty pages for me to want to continue.
Read
February 27, 2017The DNF Q&A [no rating]:
->Did you really give Firstlife a chance?
Yes – I made it about halfway through before setting it aside.
->Have you enjoyed other books in the same genre before?
I’ve loved a lot of things from the YA genre, although I admit lately I’ve had less patience for teen angst in general. I haven’t read anything quite like Firstlife before, but it had vague similarities to these other titles, which I enjoyed (mostly):
The Sweetest Dark - Shana Abe
Firelight - Sophie Jordan
Rush - Eve Silver
The Angel Experiment - James Patterson
Angelfall - Susan Ee
-> Did you have certain expectations before starting it?
Unfortunately I had low expectations going into Firstlife, but decided to pick it up despite a few negative reviews. Even more unfortunate was that it lived up to my low expectations.
->What ultimately made you stop reading?
Two things: 1. It was just too bloody weird. Now, I’ve always appreciated Showalter for dancing to her own drum (a quality I’ve adored in other works of hers), but Firstlife was a bit too far-reaching even for me. The very beginning explains these “influencers” of the two philosophical groups venturing down to the “Firstlife” world to influence the main character to join their side. Both influencers are male, but one goes down in a girl’s body… it was weird. It, along with an odd sequence of events, was just too weird for me. Did I mention it was weird?
2. I did not like the main character, finding her decisions contradictory (which I hate). She was supposed to be this tough, somewhat stubborn girl who chose to undergo imprisonment and physical torture rather than stray from her convictions. But, as soon as the two “influencers” walked-in, she started waffling about everything before they’d even really made their pitch on why she should join their side. Especially the boy – all he had to do was ask her to jump and she’d say “how high?” It was a frustrating contradiction of character – she came across very weak minded when the framework of the story set her up as someone incredibly strong unswayable. I really, really hated that.
->Was there anything you liked about Firstlife?
I liked a lot of things at first, such as character, world building, and story, but quickly soured to all of them because of the issues listed above.
->Would you read anything else by this author?
Yes, although I’m now terrified to read her other YA trilogy – signed hardcovers I’ve had on my shelf for ages. If I ever need a delightfully cheesy paranormal romance, however, she’s still one of my first picks.
-> So you DNF’d the book – would you still recommend it?
I don’t think so. There are too many other books I’d recommend first.
Via The Obsessive Bookseller at www.nikihawkes.com
->Did you really give Firstlife a chance?
Yes – I made it about halfway through before setting it aside.
->Have you enjoyed other books in the same genre before?
I’ve loved a lot of things from the YA genre, although I admit lately I’ve had less patience for teen angst in general. I haven’t read anything quite like Firstlife before, but it had vague similarities to these other titles, which I enjoyed (mostly):
The Sweetest Dark - Shana Abe
Firelight - Sophie Jordan
Rush - Eve Silver
The Angel Experiment - James Patterson
Angelfall - Susan Ee
-> Did you have certain expectations before starting it?
Unfortunately I had low expectations going into Firstlife, but decided to pick it up despite a few negative reviews. Even more unfortunate was that it lived up to my low expectations.
->What ultimately made you stop reading?
Two things: 1. It was just too bloody weird. Now, I’ve always appreciated Showalter for dancing to her own drum (a quality I’ve adored in other works of hers), but Firstlife was a bit too far-reaching even for me. The very beginning explains these “influencers” of the two philosophical groups venturing down to the “Firstlife” world to influence the main character to join their side. Both influencers are male, but one goes down in a girl’s body… it was weird. It, along with an odd sequence of events, was just too weird for me. Did I mention it was weird?
2. I did not like the main character, finding her decisions contradictory (which I hate). She was supposed to be this tough, somewhat stubborn girl who chose to undergo imprisonment and physical torture rather than stray from her convictions. But, as soon as the two “influencers” walked-in, she started waffling about everything before they’d even really made their pitch on why she should join their side. Especially the boy – all he had to do was ask her to jump and she’d say “how high?” It was a frustrating contradiction of character – she came across very weak minded when the framework of the story set her up as someone incredibly strong unswayable. I really, really hated that.
->Was there anything you liked about Firstlife?
I liked a lot of things at first, such as character, world building, and story, but quickly soured to all of them because of the issues listed above.
->Would you read anything else by this author?
Yes, although I’m now terrified to read her other YA trilogy – signed hardcovers I’ve had on my shelf for ages. If I ever need a delightfully cheesy paranormal romance, however, she’s still one of my first picks.
-> So you DNF’d the book – would you still recommend it?
I don’t think so. There are too many other books I’d recommend first.
Via The Obsessive Bookseller at www.nikihawkes.com
September 12, 2020
In a World where your death doesn't mean that your life is over but another one begins, you have to make a choice on where you want to end up with.
Who boasts about autonomy...bliss...indulgence.
They don't care about Firstlife, only Everlife matters to them and they are willing to nagotiate with you for you to chose them.
or
Who is known for structure...constant study...absolute conformity.
They do care about Firstlife as much as Everlife and they don't nagotiate. Everyone on their side is equal. they get's the same opportunities. What's right is right and wrong is wrong, no exceptions.
There is rumored to be a third place. • The Realm of Many Ends
Which people who are unsigned, end up.
It's said to be a dark place where all your nightmares come to live.
So, with these options, what would you chose?
Most people, sign with the same side as their families but there are a few who change sides. There are even some that don't want to chose a side at all.
Tenley Lockwood, is one of the undecided.
Both her parents are signed with Myriad and want her to sign with them too and when she refused to do so, they locked her up in a prison, where she get's tortured daily, until she finally choses a side. Only Ten doesn't plan on chosing. She sees faults in both sides and wants nothing more than to become a legal adult so she can be free to live her own life and make her own choices.
What she doesn't know however is that both sides are desperate to have her. They will go into great lengths to get her and neither one plans on stopping until she signs with one of them.
The plot of this series is very intriguing.
A World where your life after death only begins, is a great concept.
The execution wasn't as good.
This is the second series I started reading by Gena Showalter. I read The White Rabbit Chronicles and I loved it. The writing was alot better in them then it was in this book.
The world building wasn't explained enough and I had a hard time to keep up with most things, the fact that she randomly added some supernatural elements here and there in the story, didn't help.
The descriptions of both sides, didn't help me understand what they're stand for and why they were feuding. Yes, we can clearly tell which side the auther prefers and which they made the bad guy, but why? What do the people on both sides do besides recruiting people?
To say it plainly, I was confused throughout most of the book.
Our protagonist Tenley, is described to be a badass. She doesn't take sh*t from no one. Everyone calls her Nutter and avoid her (besides her enemy, Sloan).
That is until a pretty boy comes along and she goes all gooey and heart eyes for him.
(I'm serious, the insta love in this book is on of the cringiest I've ever read.)
In all honesty I contemplated dnf'ing this book and just be done with it but I kept going because I wanted to like it. I wanted for it be as good as the concept is but it just never got there.
Still it wasn't one of the worst books I've read. Not even close. I did love the last three chapters. They did drop my mouth open. And I did love Archer and Looney Linda. I just wished we saw more of her.
I do plan on reading the other two books in the series and hope that they make up for what this book lacked.
(Hopefully they explain things alot better and stick more to the world building then the cringy romance.)
• Myriad
Who boasts about autonomy...bliss...indulgence.
They don't care about Firstlife, only Everlife matters to them and they are willing to nagotiate with you for you to chose them.
or
• Troika
Who is known for structure...constant study...absolute conformity.
They do care about Firstlife as much as Everlife and they don't nagotiate. Everyone on their side is equal. they get's the same opportunities. What's right is right and wrong is wrong, no exceptions.
There is rumored to be a third place. • The Realm of Many Ends
Which people who are unsigned, end up.
It's said to be a dark place where all your nightmares come to live.
So, with these options, what would you chose?
Most people, sign with the same side as their families but there are a few who change sides. There are even some that don't want to chose a side at all.
Tenley Lockwood, is one of the undecided.
Both her parents are signed with Myriad and want her to sign with them too and when she refused to do so, they locked her up in a prison, where she get's tortured daily, until she finally choses a side. Only Ten doesn't plan on chosing. She sees faults in both sides and wants nothing more than to become a legal adult so she can be free to live her own life and make her own choices.
What she doesn't know however is that both sides are desperate to have her. They will go into great lengths to get her and neither one plans on stopping until she signs with one of them.
The plot of this series is very intriguing.
A World where your life after death only begins, is a great concept.
The execution wasn't as good.
This is the second series I started reading by Gena Showalter. I read The White Rabbit Chronicles and I loved it. The writing was alot better in them then it was in this book.
The world building wasn't explained enough and I had a hard time to keep up with most things, the fact that she randomly added some supernatural elements here and there in the story, didn't help.
The descriptions of both sides, didn't help me understand what they're stand for and why they were feuding. Yes, we can clearly tell which side the auther prefers and which they made the bad guy, but why? What do the people on both sides do besides recruiting people?
To say it plainly, I was confused throughout most of the book.
Our protagonist Tenley, is described to be a badass. She doesn't take sh*t from no one. Everyone calls her Nutter and avoid her (besides her enemy, Sloan).
That is until a pretty boy comes along and she goes all gooey and heart eyes for him.
(I'm serious, the insta love in this book is on of the cringiest I've ever read.)
In all honesty I contemplated dnf'ing this book and just be done with it but I kept going because I wanted to like it. I wanted for it be as good as the concept is but it just never got there.
Still it wasn't one of the worst books I've read. Not even close. I did love the last three chapters. They did drop my mouth open. And I did love Archer and Looney Linda. I just wished we saw more of her.
I do plan on reading the other two books in the series and hope that they make up for what this book lacked.
(Hopefully they explain things alot better and stick more to the world building then the cringy romance.)
March 10, 2018
Firstlife by Gena Showalter tells the story of ONE CHOICE.
TWO REALMS.
NO SECOND CHANCE.
Tenley “Ten” Lockwood is an average seventeen-year-old girl…who has spent the past thirteen months locked inside the Prynne Asylum. The reason? Not her obsession with numbers, but her refusal to let her parents choose where she’ll live—after she dies.
There is an eternal truth most of the world has come to accept: Firstlife is merely a dress rehearsal, and real life begins after death.
In the Everlife, two realms are in power: Troika and Myriad, longtime enemies and deadly rivals. Both will do anything to recruit Ten, including sending their top Laborers to lure her to their side. Soon, Ten finds herself on the run, caught in a wild tug-of-war between the two realms who will do anything to win the right to her soul. Who can she trust? And what if the realm she’s drawn to isn’t home to the boy she’s falling for? She just has to stay alive long enough to make a decision…
CHARACTERS-
I loved ten, I was interested in being in her head with the numbers and the uniqueness of how she thought. I loved killian and archer, they were amazing and just so loveable.
ROMANCE-
So I shipped Killian and Ten with my whole heart. I did also like Archer and Ten, although their relationship is pretty much sibling love, I defiantly see potential for a love triangle.
PLOT-
The plot was super unique and I loved it!
ENDING-
She chose Trokia. Which is going to be so hard for Killian and Ten to have a relationship if she is on the other side away from Killian. I think that she would have been better at myriad to be honest.
Characters-9/10
Romance-10/10
Plot-9/10
Ending-9/10
Speed-10/10 (super fast paced)
TWO REALMS.
NO SECOND CHANCE.
Tenley “Ten” Lockwood is an average seventeen-year-old girl…who has spent the past thirteen months locked inside the Prynne Asylum. The reason? Not her obsession with numbers, but her refusal to let her parents choose where she’ll live—after she dies.
There is an eternal truth most of the world has come to accept: Firstlife is merely a dress rehearsal, and real life begins after death.
In the Everlife, two realms are in power: Troika and Myriad, longtime enemies and deadly rivals. Both will do anything to recruit Ten, including sending their top Laborers to lure her to their side. Soon, Ten finds herself on the run, caught in a wild tug-of-war between the two realms who will do anything to win the right to her soul. Who can she trust? And what if the realm she’s drawn to isn’t home to the boy she’s falling for? She just has to stay alive long enough to make a decision…
CHARACTERS-
I loved ten, I was interested in being in her head with the numbers and the uniqueness of how she thought. I loved killian and archer, they were amazing and just so loveable.
ROMANCE-
So I shipped Killian and Ten with my whole heart. I did also like Archer and Ten, although their relationship is pretty much sibling love, I defiantly see potential for a love triangle.
PLOT-
The plot was super unique and I loved it!
ENDING-
She chose Trokia. Which is going to be so hard for Killian and Ten to have a relationship if she is on the other side away from Killian. I think that she would have been better at myriad to be honest.
Characters-9/10
Romance-10/10
Plot-9/10
Ending-9/10
Speed-10/10 (super fast paced)
Want to read
November 4, 2015 Such a pretty cover!
I CAN'T WAIT FOR THIS !
I CAN'T WAIT FOR THIS !
February 6, 2016
Her FirstLife was only a dry run for her eternal life, a place called the Everlife. Tenley Lockwood must choose the realm she will commit to and her refusal to pick begins a chaotic journey fraught with death, blood, battles and deceit. Choosing is an eternal thing and Ten will not be forced to commit, no matter what, but if her heart gets entangled, will it color her decision? Two realms, the Troika and the Myriad battle for her soul, because she may be the deciding factor in the eternal fight between dark and light. Both realms are flawed, filled with treachery and Ten’s position as a pawn in this eternal tug of war is a fascinating twist that only Gena Showalter could pull off and make it look easy.
Prepare for one strong-willed, yet terrified teen who has become a warrior for her own right to choose. A girl who feels the guilt of causing death, the camaraderie of those who support her and the twisted games others will play to bring her over to their side, all make for a twisted tale that one must pay close attention to every step of the way. If you have ever thought of your version of the afterlife, kick it aside and consider that Gena Showalter’s version sounds eerily realistic as the battle for souls rages on and no one is clearly the right choice. FirstLife is a strong start to an intensely intricate series filled with great characters, amazing scenes and magnetic writing.
I received an ARC edition from Harlequin Teen in exchange for my honest review.
Series: Everlife - Book 1
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Publication Date: February 23, 2016
ISBN-10: 0373211570
ISBN-13: 978-0373211579
Genre: YA Fantasy
Hardcover: 480 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
Prepare for one strong-willed, yet terrified teen who has become a warrior for her own right to choose. A girl who feels the guilt of causing death, the camaraderie of those who support her and the twisted games others will play to bring her over to their side, all make for a twisted tale that one must pay close attention to every step of the way. If you have ever thought of your version of the afterlife, kick it aside and consider that Gena Showalter’s version sounds eerily realistic as the battle for souls rages on and no one is clearly the right choice. FirstLife is a strong start to an intensely intricate series filled with great characters, amazing scenes and magnetic writing.
I received an ARC edition from Harlequin Teen in exchange for my honest review.
Series: Everlife - Book 1
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Publication Date: February 23, 2016
ISBN-10: 0373211570
ISBN-13: 978-0373211579
Genre: YA Fantasy
Hardcover: 480 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
June 21, 2017
"Ten tears fall, and I call. Nine hundred trees, but only one is for me. Eight times eight times eight they fly, whatever you do, don't stay dry. Seven ladies dancing, ignore their sweet romancing. Six second to hide, up, up, and you'll survive. Five times four times three, and that is where he'll be. Two I'll save, I'll be brave, brave, brave. The one I adore, I'll come back for."
This book has been the death of me. I can't even right now.
It's brilliantly beautiful, it made my heart expand and kept me on the edge of my seat.
"She didn't strike me as a soldier.
But she is a voice. One whisper into the ear or another can spark another whisper and another whisper, until the noise is deafening."
Ten is amazing! She's tough but she has a heart and isn't stone cold. I fell in love with her as I read.
Killian is a dream. With his cocky grin as well as his big heart, he defends Ten without hesitation.
Archer my boy. I love you. Such a sweetheart. He's good for the sake of good. Amazing.
"A child isn't supposed to die without ever living."
5 gloriously heartbreakingly amazing stars!
"I am alone
Never will I believe
You care for me
The truth is
Having faith in you is foolish
I don't think
My well-being is your first priority
I know
We'll protect each other
Is just silly. I believe
Remaining on my own
Is the smartest course of action
Staying with you
Is the fastest way to Firstdeath
Walking- no, running- away from you
Won't be easy, but I'm willing to do it
And I know that
We're better off together
Is a lie. For I'm certain of this
I am alone.
Two sides. The read down, and the read up. The negative and the positive."
This book has been the death of me. I can't even right now.
It's brilliantly beautiful, it made my heart expand and kept me on the edge of my seat.
"She didn't strike me as a soldier.
But she is a voice. One whisper into the ear or another can spark another whisper and another whisper, until the noise is deafening."
Ten is amazing! She's tough but she has a heart and isn't stone cold. I fell in love with her as I read.
Killian is a dream. With his cocky grin as well as his big heart, he defends Ten without hesitation.
Archer my boy. I love you. Such a sweetheart. He's good for the sake of good. Amazing.
"A child isn't supposed to die without ever living."
5 gloriously heartbreakingly amazing stars!
"I am alone
Never will I believe
You care for me
The truth is
Having faith in you is foolish
I don't think
My well-being is your first priority
I know
We'll protect each other
Is just silly. I believe
Remaining on my own
Is the smartest course of action
Staying with you
Is the fastest way to Firstdeath
Walking- no, running- away from you
Won't be easy, but I'm willing to do it
And I know that
We're better off together
Is a lie. For I'm certain of this
I am alone.
Two sides. The read down, and the read up. The negative and the positive."
Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,717 reviews