The Almost Girl (The Riven Chronicles, #1) by Amalie Howard

Jan 02, 2014 Khanh, first of her name, mother of bunnies rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: ya, why-do-i-hate-myself, twins-triplets-clones, slut-shaming, sci-fi, romance, high-school, b-word-heroine, alternate-universe

“Why’d you name me Riven? It’s so horrible,” I was wailing. “It’s not even pretty. It’s ugly, like me.”

You are Riven! Like your deadly (and ugly, remember?) name, you are an assassin! A deadly Legion General, one of the highest ranking officers in your world. You are smart, tactically brilliant! You are on a covert rescue mission on Earth, trying to masquerade as a high schooler!

Naturally, blending in is of the utmost importance. It is absolutely crucial to look like a normal high schooler,

“Why’d you name me Riven? It’s so horrible,” I was wailing. “It’s not even pretty. It’s ugly, like me.”

You are Riven! Like your deadly (and ugly, remember?) name, you are an assassin! A deadly Legion General, one of the highest ranking officers in your world. You are smart, tactically brilliant! You are on a covert rescue mission on Earth, trying to masquerade as a high schooler!

Naturally, blending in is of the utmost importance. It is absolutely crucial to look like a normal high schooler, one of the masses, one to whom nobody would give a second look. Do not draw attention to yourself in any way. Keep your hair a dull, common color. Try not to attract the attention of authorities, particularly not the police.

“I mean, you look like me, well, except the hair. Yours has green and blue in it,” he points out. I touch the strands and remember that I’d dyed it four schools before, after the incident with the police.

Keep your transportation to something unobtrusive. Like an old car, nothing like a flashy, extremely expensive racing motorcycle. Nothing like...a Ducati.

...I reach the empty parking lot where [my] Ducati is parked...

Naturally, you have to get along with your classmates. Not be super super close friends with them or anything, but friendly enough not to attract negative attention.

“I get it. You don’t like being touched, you want to be alone, and you’re not looking for any friends.”
“Guys, this is Riven. New girl,” Caden says to his friends with a wide grin. “But be warned–”
“Hey, I’m Jake,” a redheaded boy interrupts with a smile. Jake trails off at the dark scowl on my face.
“As I was saying, just don’t mention her riding skills or ask her about anything personal; she gets a little touchy about that. And she’s not interested in making friends, so forget I introduced her and move along.”

You meet new people at your school. High schoolers. They're normal people, they're not fucking clichéd high school mean-girl tropes or anything like that.

[Sadie] shoots me a look that would incinerate a building. “Well, you should stick to pants. Dresses don’t really suit dykes,” she says nastily.

You would never be so petty as to slut shame someone you barely know.

...the girl tosses an icy smile in my direction, her designer white pants like a second skin and a pink shirt unbuttoned enough to show a lacy pink bra, leaving little to the imagination.

You're on a secret mission, helped along by deus ex fucking machina because everything falls into your fucking lap. There are no questions asked. There is no suspicion. You are rescued by the boy (Caden) you are intended to save. You are practically INVITED to live with him and his aunt. His aunt, who is a medical doctor. His aunt. Who is a medical doctor who is completely fooled by the bullshit medical excuse you give her. And you're not suspicious at all.

But I know that I owe them both some kind of explanation for my bizarre behavior...and for the injector that looks like it comes from some kind of super advanced robotics lab.
“Mine is a little more complicated,” I say. “I’m not allergic to bees or food. It’s a...a genetic brain thing."

You're such a powerful fighter! You move like a butterfly, sting like a bee.

I spring backward to compensate and bang my still-healing ankle into the desk chair next to the bed.

You are fierce! You are strong!

I’m faster and fiercer than anyone else. I’m death in a girl’s body.

So strong that you just flutter to the ground in a faint.

I can feel myself shutting down. I should have rested today, stayed in bed and given myself a chance to recuperate from the jump, but I’d been stupid, arrogant. My eyes slip shut.

And you faint again!

There is nothing but darkness...inexorably closing in.
“Where am I? What happened?”
“You went into circulatory shock and you fainted.”

And yet again!

It’s my last thought before I slip into an unwelcome oblivion.

You are such a competent fighter. You are always on guard. You never, ever let yourself relax for a single moment. You are the perfect soldier, really.

The cold tip of an electro-rod presses against the soft spot just beneath my ear, and my body freezes.
I feel a sharp zap against my skin, and then the darkness blinds me.

You are so utterly competent as a soldier that you don't have to do any fighting at all. Things just drop dead by deus ex fucking machina just like that! With a single command, the battle is won.

“No!” I scream. “Cease! That is an order.”
To my utter disbelief, both Vectors stop, turning in dumb submission toward me.

And yet again.

With a deep breath, I raise the staff I took off Vector Shae and prepare to do battle.

But then the unexpected happens.

Every single one of the Vectors stops in their tracks, their arms and weapons falling to their sides, eyes going blank and dull.

Well, isn't that just fucking convenient. You are such a fucking competent, a bloody brilliant general that you hardly have to fucking fight at all. And when you're in a jam, naturally, someone will save your fucking ass, O Legion Fucking General.

I can feel my cells desperately trying to re-engage, when the incongruity of the situation hits me. Caden’s the one protecting me.

You are from a country where there's been some vague Tech War. No idea what happened, but the nation has been devastated, but you guys live under a glass dome. Water is a scarcity. You've been living in the United States for years, with our abundance of water. You've presumably showered. You've presumably seen swimming pools. It's been YEARS. YEARS. The use of water shouldn't be a big deal anymore. But you, you're a fucking special one, aren't you? You are impressed by the excessive waste of water used in a WATERBED. A waterbed! Never say so! My god, how did you manage to survive all those showers and go to school with kids who must surely carry water around with them everywhere they go without knocking it out of their hands? Imagine if you saw a fucking sprinkler!

“It’s just a waterbed. They’re supposed to be soggy.”
“A water what?” The thought is inconceivable to me...a bed with water in it. When I think of the scarcity and the high cost of water where I come from, the thought of the overindulgence of Caden’s bed makes me physically sick.

Your nation is so fucking awesome that everyone is trained to fight! Men, women, all are trained in the art of combat at a young age. Riven herself has been a killer since she was a toddler.

I was lightning-fast and held the advantage of having held a sword before the age of two.

Oh man, fuck, man. Here I am at the age of 2.

I'm such a fucking failure at life, never having held a sword before as a toddler. I don't know how I can live with myself.

In your world, since it's like, decimated and all, men and women are all trained to be killers. ALL OF THEM. Trained since they can talk, trained in weaponry, fighting. And for some fucking reason, you guys have...dancers. For entertainment. Wait, what? Weren't all people essential in Neospes? Where the fuck did all the dancers come from?

Danseuses are nothing more than paid female escorts, paid to entertain wealthy citizens of Neospes

Naturally, when you go under cover, you have to go in disguise as an exotic dancer, because fulfilling a mission in your ratty soldier uniform is a fucking no-no!

Strange dark-gold extensions have been applied and braided intricately with sweet-smelling blossoms into my own hair. My skin has been oiled to a gilded sheen and colored shimmery dust applied to my eyes and cheeks. The women gesture for me to step into my costume – a filmy white and silver getup that looks like some kind of confection instead of a dress.

Naturally, your lover boy Caden gets to wear normal clothes when you're dressed as fucking Princess Leia.

Speaking of Caden. He's such a fucking gentleman, isn't he? I mean, he calls his own girlfriend a bitch.

Your girlfriend isn’t a bitch?”
A laugh. “No, she is, but Sadie’s harmless. Remind me to tell you about it later.”

Well, isn't he just the fucking catch of the day. I mean, he would actually hold you close on his bed when he's still with her.

A shiver runs through me, and warm fingers slide against my wrist. The shiver deepens. The waterbed shifts, rolling me upward as Caden turns on his side to face me. I can feel him staring at me, but I keep my eyes glued to the ceiling. His fingers skim downward to cover my closed fist in his hand.

And he loves you so much, he's such a goddamned sweetheart that he would play a lovely game of tongue twister and tonsil hockey with you while he's still got a girlfriend. And you're a willing participant in cheating.

My breaths get shorter and shorter, and suddenly his mouth is crushed against my lips.
The grating sound of the trash bin grinding across the floor pierces through the fog encasing us both, and I open languorous eyes to see [Caden's girlfriend] Sadie, her body shaking with rage.
“What the fuck is going on?”

Your romance is beautiful. Earth-shattering. Never mind how it got there. Your love is overwhelming to the point that it compromises a crucial mission to save your people.

“Caden,” I begin.
“Mmm,” he says, trailing more kisses up my arm. But before I can continue, the sound of a door slamming jerks me into action. I shove Caden to one side and press my fingers urgently against his lips, my eyes wide. Someone is outside.
How could I have been so reckless?

Fuck you both. ...more

flag 131 likes · Like · see review

Dec 03, 2013 Rose rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, dystoromance, dystopia, netgalley, pretty-cover, sci-fi, romance, arc-or-galley, action, fantasy

Initial reaction: Yeah, I have a few things to talk about later on when I'm feeling up to reflecting on this story. In sum, though? Probably one of the more mediocre sci-fi stories I've come across. The worldbuilding was sketchy, the characters were typical, the twists were manufactured and convenient, and the whole thing was a mess. Including the romance.

Full review:

Argh, this is the kind of review I don't want to write, but feel I have to. This particular genre's a part of my heart and head, a ...more

flag 18 likes · Like · see review

Nov 29, 2013 Kathylill rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: 2014, young-adult, dystopian, reviewed, beam-me-up-scotty-scifi

As with a lot of YA books lately this one fell flat for me even though cover and description sounded promising.

The book starts with River “escaping” her world on a secret mission by the Prince to find his long lost hidden away brother. The first pages had me right into the story, with a kick ass heroine; wow … I was really rubbing my hands in anticipation of the coming story.

The first thing that didn’t work for me was the High School setting. The High School drama, the teen angst, the slut sham ...more

flag 12 likes · Like · see review

Feb 20, 2013 Kristi Cook rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

WOW. Heart-pounding, edge-of-seat fabulous! Loved the world-building--very cinematic. A great intro to a new series. Looking forward to the sequel!

flag 10 likes · Like · see review

Oct 15, 2013 Kribu rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley, received-for-review, read-in-2013, young-adult, action, androids, conspiracy, insta-love, school, sci-fi

Before I say anything else, I should point out that this was an ARC that I read. It's possible that some of the awful mess that this book is will be improved on for the final version.

(I have my doubts; the e-book was well-formatted and it didn't feel like a first draft, I didn't spot any noteworthy typos or grammar issues, which are really the only things I'd expect that might still get polished away at this stage - all the problems I had with it were on much deeper level. The plot was full of ...more

flag 7 likes · Like · see review

Oct 31, 2013 Nikki rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: children-s-and-ya, speculative-fiction, cyberpunk, post-apocalyptic, received-to-review, netgalley

Received as an ARC from Netgalley. Like all Angry Robot/Strange Chemistry books, this is a compulsive read: I started it this afternoon and just finished it now. I think I'd have been more enthusiastic about it when I was younger, and I'm almost positive my sister would really enjoy it. Even now I found it interesting, and got swept up in the action.

Part of the problem for me is the very teenage focus on attraction and love, which is not something I'm particularly interested in. On the flip side ...more

flag 7 likes · Like · see review

Oct 30, 2013 Isa Lavinia rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Recommends it for: no one

Shelves: arc, netgalley, awful, boring, disappointment, mary-sue, tstl, young-adult

ARC provided by Strange Chemistry through Netgalley

I hate writing bad reviews, so I'm going to try to keep this short...

The first problem with this book is the blurb. It promises a heroine who rose to the rank of Legion General and is the right hand of the Prince.
This is YA so, from this description, I was expecting a mature young woman - not a child.

This just isn't realistic - yes, child soldiers are an unfortunate reality in our very world, but this is absurd.

This is a child who claims to h ...more

flag 6 likes · Like · see review

Jan 23, 2016 Siobhan Davis rated it really liked it

Shelves: arc, review-copy, sci-fi, series, ya

The Almost Girl is a well-written sci-fi romance with interesting worldbuilding and a complex MC. I was gripped from the very start, and with the exception of a small section when the story moved to Neospes, it was fast paced and kept my attention.

The plot was action-packed and full of twists and turns. Though the revelation in relation to her identity wasn't a major shock, it was still a good twist.

Cade is, ah, swoon ..... a perfect book boyfriend! Smart, funny, sexy, protective and he deals ...more

flag 6 likes · Like · see review

Jan 17, 2014 Rebekah rated it did not like it · review of another edition

I just couldn't get into to this book, the characters were over the top the drama was eye rolling I just couldn't finish it.

Nicole's Review: I started the book because my 14-year-old niece said it was really good. "My new favorite book," she said. So I was excited. And it was going well in the beginning. I was curious about what was going to happen, about the world, about the characters. But then I got about half way through... and couldn't read anymore. Here's why:

Howard tells us how brave and ...more

flag 6 likes · Like · see review

Oct 30, 2013 Susana rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: arc, netgalley, 2014, didn-t-finish-it, drama-drama-drama, sci-fi, ya

Arc provided by Netgalley

DNF at 43%

I once read that when writing a less than positive review, one should always start by pointing out the positives of said story.
Okay the positive of this story is:

The synopsis

As you can see, and read, it seems amazing!

The problem?

Well, as it happens with the latest trend in YA books, a promising synopsis doesn't imply an amazing story. The imagination is there. But the outcome is nothing less than a mess of stereotypes come together in another mess of literary ...more

flag 5 likes · Like · see review

Oct 29, 2013 Tanja (Tanychy) St. Delphi/James rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: arc-galleys, dystopia

Review also posted at Ja čitam, a ti?

Recently almost all dystopian novels that I've read had something in common. That is the reality of the story which at the same time thrills me because of all the ideas and scares the hell out of me because of the possibility of these ideas coming true. This one is no exception.

Parallel universes have been something that's been fairly popular nowadays and the story here is based on that. Parallel with out world is another world called Neospes, but that unive ...more

flag 5 likes · Like · see review

Jan 17, 2015 Colleen Houck added it · review of another edition

Shelves: sci-fi, parallel-universe

What a crazy ride! I loved the heroine of this book. She's so strong and powerful. Loved the concept of eversion and alternate worlds. So cool. Preordering the sequel today.

flag 5 likes · Like · see review

Oct 10, 2013 Nafiza rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: source-net-galley, read-2013

So I’ll go out on a limb and say that the new year will bring lots of science fiction-ey, non-dystopian drama our way. Amalie Howard’s The Almost Girl is fast-paced and full of action. It features bad guys, technology, aliens, cute boys who seem beta until they start fighting and a badass heroine. It’s entertainment at its best and I enjoyed it quite a bit.

It begins with a chase, the 14 year old running from A.I. soldiers who are nearly undefeatable. If you are not Riven who has super special po So I’ll go out on a limb and say that the new year will bring lots of science fiction-ey, non-dystopian drama our way. Amalie Howard’s The Almost Girl is fast-paced and full of action. It features bad guys, technology, aliens, cute boys who seem beta until they start fighting and a badass heroine. It’s entertainment at its best and I enjoyed it quite a bit.

It begins with a chase, the 14 year old running from A.I. soldiers who are nearly undefeatable. If you are not Riven who has super special powers that make her more amazing than amazing can be. Special snowflake status granted. She’s looking for someone and risks her life to teleport from one place to another on earth and across universes. And then he finds her – actually, he rescues her which made me snicker because you know, how else would you know Prince Charming? Even if you are a badass soldier?

There are deep meaningful things to keep emotional interplay going – the sister, the relative who I will not name, the father who is more evil genius than a parent. The morally ambiguous mission Riven is on that makes her rethink her priorities and the people she calls allies. The connection she feels with the target that she has no business feeling. The betrayal at the end and the revelations that are very upsetting for Riven and shake her to the core.

The book has a lot of elements that make it very good entertainment. However, I felt that the villainous characters could have been better and more developed. The readers don’t see them until the denouement of the novel and by then, it’s too late to say anything of any substance. If I am to believe in the treachery of the people involved, I need to be convinced that the facets of their personality are complex. What totally annoyed me was how Riven and her target break into her father’s house to get something of importance from there and instead of finishing up their errand and getting out of there pronto, they start making out. In the enemy’s house. I mean, seriously? All the cred the novel had built up till then flitted away. Any respect I had felt for Riven before then flitted away. I mean, who does that? She’s a solider, a super special snowflake assassin solider. Why doesn’t she know better than to make out with her boyfriend in the enemy’s house?

Yeah, I was a bit angered by that. Ahem. Anyway, at the end of it all, I thought it was interesting and I will most definitely read the second one in the series barring any future incidents like the one mentioned above. ...more

flag 4 likes · Like · see review

Dec 17, 2013 Tabitha rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, sci-fi-or-futuristic, angry-robot

The Almost Girl falls into a middle ground for me. One where I can’t always put my finger on the reasons why I only just liked or ok’d it. With a gripping prologue and a suspenseful sounding premise the progression of the book was a bit uneven for me. But then on the flip side when action scenes appeared they were well written and engaging.

Character development!
Again I experienced this flip flop reaction when it came to the characters. Riven was such a strong female lead and a General in the mil The Almost Girl falls into a middle ground for me. One where I can’t always put my finger on the reasons why I only just liked or ok’d it. With a gripping prologue and a suspenseful sounding premise the progression of the book was a bit uneven for me. But then on the flip side when action scenes appeared they were well written and engaging.

Character development!
Again I experienced this flip flop reaction when it came to the characters. Riven was such a strong female lead and a General in the military on her own world, that I found some of her behavior incongruous with what I was expecting. I know, I know I shouldn’t expect a character to behave a certain way, but I’m sure we all have those moments. I did love her character development and how she seems so rock solid in the beginning to being more vulnerable and human towards the end. I’m going to lump my romance thoughts in here and say…It’s there. I’m usually a hit or miss person on the romance in the ya fiction that I read. I love reading young adult books but for some reason I only enjoy about half of the romances that in the ones I read…and if you don’t know already, almost every young adult book features a romance.

Thoughts on editing.
Keeping in mind that I read the advance reader edition of this book, some things may have been changed in the published version. But in the bedroom I read I really felt the book needed more editing. I don’t mean there were typos or anything like that, I just mean a plot or character nudge here, a removed scene there, providing more varied ways of delivering world building information – those sorts of things. I think it had the potential to have been a much smoother and gripping read. I can’t really complain tho because I’m not a writer or editor and wouldn’t know how to accomplish that perfect balance.

World building!
Once we get away from our reality things get good. I struggled more so with the portion that takes place in our reality, but once the characters make it to Neospes my interest was definitely peaked. What a world! The technology and the creepy vector android zombies?, the technology, pretty much everything there had my sci-fi itch jonezing.

Fans of strong young adult heroines and alternate worlds may very well find The Almost Girl to be a winner. ...more

flag 4 likes · Like · see review

Feb 18, 2013 Teresa Mary Rose rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: arc, favorites, for-review, cover-love, sci-fi, ya, netgalley-edelweiss, re-readable-books, 2013

More Reviews Here: Readers Live A Thousand Lives

This is a book that it is very hard for me to write a review for because I really loved it and I’m not quite sure how to put that love into words. This is a brilliantly crafted story with wonderful characters. The world building is awesome and in true nerd girl fashion I loved all the sci-fi elements.

Riven is an awesome awesome heroine! She is so strong and tough and determined. When we first meet her she is very cold and closed off. She is driven More Reviews Here: Readers Live A Thousand Lives

This is a book that it is very hard for me to write a review for because I really loved it and I’m not quite sure how to put that love into words. This is a brilliantly crafted story with wonderful characters. The world building is awesome and in true nerd girl fashion I loved all the sci-fi elements.

Riven is an awesome awesome heroine! She is so strong and tough and determined. When we first meet her she is very cold and closed off. She is driven by her mission and that is it; no questions asked. It takes a lot to get through to her. However, over the course of the book she changes and she grows. I loved watching Riven grow into a strong heroine; one determined to do what is right and not just what she is told. Also, it’s nice to see a book where the heroine does most of the saving: KA POW!

Our other main character is Caden and guys I loved Caden! He pushes Riven to become the person he knows she truly is and he is patient and kind. He is very very easy to fall in love with. He is strong and tough, but still kind and sweet. He says the sweetest things and really has a way with words. I love how well he adapted to everything changing around him and that he didn’t let anything hold him back.

The world building in The Almost Girl is wonderful. We start off on Earth or the Otherworld as they call it, but we also get to see Neospes. Neospes is a scary place and Amalie depicts it well. She created a completely new world and I had no trouble visualizing it. The creatures that inhabit Neospes will give you shudders. It is so imaginative and just cool, to put it simply.

My favorite thing about the story though was all the twists and turns. There are so many twists along the way and I swear I didn’t see any of them coming. The book really keeps you on your toes. You never know who to trust because the second you trust someone, they stick a knife in your back. It’s crazy how many times I was left staring at the pages shocked.

The Almost Girl is a crazy ride and is the perfect read for sci-fi fans. The ending has me dying for more to the story! This is easily one of my favorite sci-fi reads and I highly recommend it. ...more

flag 4 likes · Like · see review

Feb 04, 2014 paula rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: read-for-publication, young-adult

NOT RECOMMENDED. It’s just so sloppily written - verb tenses in particular switch all over the place, from present to past and back again within sentences. Heavy reliance on past perfect contractions - I’d remembered and he’d fought and it’d been surprising. So awkward and difficult to sort those sentences out to figure out what exactly went on and in what order.

Sloppy contradictions:
“His voice is dead, just like the rest of him, but he understands exactly who she is. He’s half-alive, but still ...more

flag 4 likes · Like · see review

Jan 08, 2014 Navdha rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: i-don-t-know-if-i-can, ilovethecoveromg, not-very-happy, predictable, ummm-really, yay-it-s-over

How do I put this gently? Riven, the female MC in this book, whose name actually means to tear apart, who is such a narcissist, who claims to be all deadly and powerful, is actually a vain, conceited bitch? Why do I say such a rude thing about a supposedly strong MC who has kickass fighting skills? Well, let’s backtrack a little.

The book is divided in two sections. One is setup in a high school (where all YA action happens, obviously) and the other in a planet (place?) called Neopses. Riven is How do I put this gently? Riven, the female MC in this book, whose name actually means to tear apart, who is such a narcissist, who claims to be all deadly and powerful, is actually a vain, conceited bitch? Why do I say such a rude thing about a supposedly strong MC who has kickass fighting skills? Well, let’s backtrack a little.

The book is divided in two sections. One is setup in a high school (where all YA action happens, obviously) and the other in a planet (place?) called Neopses. Riven is a Legion Commander from her planet, a living prodigy, one to be the youngest commander at the age of 17, on a mission sent from the Prince himself (who is also her bff btw) to find the target and take him back to her planet. The target, as you would have mostly likely guessed (read in the blurb), is none other than our hero, Caden. Now before I move ahead, let’s just talk about how dreamy our lover boy is, shall we? Caden is a guy who a) calls his own girlfriend a bitch, b) full on flirts and makes out with another girl when he’s in a relationship with the said bitch (But he makes out with our Riven! That makes it so much more romantic right? Right? ???? No.) and c) is such a horny teenager that he would rather jump Riven’s bones then actually focus on the task at hand or feel sorry about his losses.

But moving on, let’s focus on the plot holes from here on, hmm? So, Riven has been on Earth for about 3 years but only recently her body starts shutting down because of her over exerting herself or something. I mean her bff/Prince, Cale, whose father was killed by his own uncle has been sick all this time but just recently Riven’s urgency to find the target has grown to the point that she has an “allergic reaction” to our planet. Her body goes into shock, stops working while she’s riding a fucking Ducati (attention-seeking much?) so that she is conveniently saved by Caden; the same guy who is in her class but she failed to notice when she’s supposed to be all so vigilant. Shit starts happening after she has recovered and met her sister Shae. Her megalomaniac father sends his dead creations called Vectors to capture her from all across the Universe, but somehow (even though he’s supposed to be so brilliant) forgets to reset the Vectors coding to not follow Riven’s commands who was their commander 3 fucking years ago. Anyway, after some action and revelations, when they land on Neopses (don’t even get me started on how vague the world building for Neopses is) our ever so strong and lithe commander is yet again in need of saving. I guess Riven never heard of the saying that “Action speaks louder than words”.

So, as predicted there is this entire coup led by someone I hadn’t predicted coming into picture in the second half of the book. However, it is so hastily put together that I was skipping through most of it. A lot of it is talking since the scheming is already done. The action is limited to a few pages towards the end with a fizzled out ending that left me completely dissatisfied. But before I wrap up my review, there is another recurring issue that had me thoroughly exasperated: the incongruent timelines. In the beginning it was mentioned that Caden went to a beach trip with his mom when he was 8 years of age but then just in the next page it was mentioned that his mom died when he was only 7 years old. Another instance was where Caden mentioned that Shae had him join ballroom dance and was very strict with his routine sword fighting or whatever since a very young age, but how old was Shae really? If her lover as mentioned later in the book was only 20 years of age, then I can’t expect her to be older than that, right? If Caden has been doing this since he was 7 or 8 that means Shae had been with him all along. But Shae ran away from Neopses when she was what? Is it just me forgetting this detail or was it mentioned somewhere that I missed? Anyway, so if we suppose that Shae was 10 when Cade was 7, could someone explain to me how a 10 year old has this much authority or experience to train a kid? Does that mean that Shae had been everting all her life? Gah, this is sooo confusing.

Pheww. Well, I’m done. 2.5 stars rounded down to 2. Yee-haw!
...more

flag 3 likes · Like · see review

Nov 18, 2013 Wendy rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: dystopia, action-adventure, netgalley, young-adult, science-fiction

Riven is a military general in command of technologically advanced undead soldiers called Vectors. When we first meet her, she has defected and is being hunted by her former charges before she “everts” to our planet to follow through on her mission: find a boy named Caden.

The prologue gives you a taste of what’s to come with a strong, resourceful and deadly main character and a lot of action, but once we hit earth, things stagger. First of all, there’s the problem of this crack soldier who fails Riven is a military general in command of technologically advanced undead soldiers called Vectors. When we first meet her, she has defected and is being hunted by her former charges before she “everts” to our planet to follow through on her mission: find a boy named Caden.

The prologue gives you a taste of what’s to come with a strong, resourceful and deadly main character and a lot of action, but once we hit earth, things stagger. First of all, there’s the problem of this crack soldier who fails to notice that her target is actually in the science class she’s been attending for some time. Fortunately, she has an accident that leads her to his doorstep. From there, there are some interludes where more time is spent is inexplicably spent in highschool, rather than Riven dealing with the delivery of her package. Then there is a lot of time spent running away from and/or fighting the Vectors that have been sent to retrieve him, with the help of several other people from her planet, including Riven's sister, Shae. While each encounter includes some very well-scripted fight sequences, the quantity of said encounters becomes tedious and the information that results from each one could have been delivered more quickly, rather than being dragged out through the first half of the book.

Fortunately, once the story gets to Riven’s planet of Neospes, things pick up significantly. The descriptions of the technology and the dystopian alternate sort of earth are great and I was intrigued by some of the politics, however, the pay off that we’ve been promised kind of fizzles out. Still, on Neospes, we meet a lot of potentially interesting characters and the intricate political plots involving Caden, his ruthless father and his brother Cale whom Riven is trying to save, and Riven’s father, the heartless creator of the Vectors.

Riven is a hard and fast soldier, intent on her mission, but Caden brings out another side of her that she doesn’t quite know how to deal with. Riven’s character growth, from a truly unlikeable character to, well, an almost girl, is very well done. Because of her involvement with Cale, it’s not surprising that she falls for Caden’s tenderness, skill and his handsome face. Unfortunately, there’s very little to make Caden likable, or to explain why he’s interested in her, or ultimately, why he actually would be worthy of the role Riven expects of him.

See more reviews at The BiblioSanctum ...more

flag 3 likes · Like · see review

Mar 31, 2014 Lucinda rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Sensational sci-fi that’s refreshingly original and an extraordinarily innovative edition to the Young Adult genre

Amalie Howard’s dazzling book is a scintillating story of breathtaking imaginative vision, scope and substance that doesn’t disappoint. The striking, eye-catching cover pulls you into a magnetic tale wrought with remarkable concepts and fresh vivacity. With a gutsy, spunky female protagonist and cast of colourful characters the confidently assured narrative exudes authenticity that’ Sensational sci-fi that’s refreshingly original and an extraordinarily innovative edition to the Young Adult genre

Amalie Howard’s dazzling book is a scintillating story of breathtaking imaginative vision, scope and substance that doesn’t disappoint. The striking, eye-catching cover pulls you into a magnetic tale wrought with remarkable concepts and fresh vivacity. With a gutsy, spunky female protagonist and cast of colourful characters the confidently assured narrative exudes authenticity that’s designed to captivate the target readership. Enthused teens will be clamouring to pluck this exciting story from the bookshelf; compulsively drawn to the storyline of great premise. Fabulously fun, action-paced and fast-paced I was taken on an intense rollercoaster ride and into a sweeping saga of depth and ingenuity.

By blending together an eclectic mix of genre {from futuristic to Dystopia} ‘The Almost Girl’ is an explosive fusion of diversity that appeals to a wide readership. Equally fans of Divergent and Enders Game will be enamoured by the intricately woven plot and sublime storytelling, that’s beguiling and utterly addictive. Amid the chilling tension and suspense is heartrending romance and profoundly evocative family drama, which touches you with truism and sincerity. 17 year old Riven has to be one of my favourite YA heroines; she is instantly likable and her fierce determination is inspiring to behold! Within the brilliantly crafted world is a smart, clever tale of out-of-this-world magnificence.

The first instalment in what I confidently predict to be an outstanding series, takes you on an adventure into a parallel universe full of deadly danger, magic and mystery. Neospes is a well-crafted and brilliantly realised world, founded on strength and a will to dominate over all. The hypnotic connection between Riven and Caden is so endearing and an element within the saga that adds a touch of enchantment within an intently uncertain backdrop. I was ever so impressed by such an ambitious adventure that kept me glued with pent-up animation to the pages!

I would like to thank Strange Chemistry/ angry robot publishers for providing me with a physical copy to read & write a non-biased, honest review on.
...more

flag 3 likes · Like · see review

Feb 17, 2016 Courtney rated it liked it

Shelves: arc

3.5 Stars

This is the first book I have ever read by Amelia Howard. I read some of the reviews before digging into this book (something I normally don't do) since I had never heard of the author before and wanted to get an idea what I was getting into. I realized that this book was being re-published so I pretty much felt that any reviews before the new published date may not truly reflect the ARC that I was given in exchange for an honest review. With that being said - on to my review.

The blurb 3.5 Stars

This is the first book I have ever read by Amelia Howard. I read some of the reviews before digging into this book (something I normally don't do) since I had never heard of the author before and wanted to get an idea what I was getting into. I realized that this book was being re-published so I pretty much felt that any reviews before the new published date may not truly reflect the ARC that I was given in exchange for an honest review. With that being said - on to my review.

The blurb of The Almost Girl is what truly pulled me in after seeing the cover. The cover is very fitting for this story and I applaud both the author and the cover designer because they nailed that.

The plot is unique and very interesting. One thing I liked was that I was able to get a really clear picture of Neospes and that entire world - their inhabitants and how that world evolved and worked. The characters in this book were a bit harder for me to connect to. However, to me that didn't hinder the story line. If anything - it sort of went along with the characteristics of some. Without giving to much away - Riven's world is nothing like Earth.

I really enjoyed this story. I was pulled into the Riven's world and their ins and outs of everything. It's interesting to see the differences between Earth and Neospes and how people are treated and regarded. Riven has to figure out how to blend in with teenagers on Earth. Even though she herself is the same age as them, her upbringing in Neospes forced her to grow up quicker and act more like an adult at an incredibly young age.

I believe that the writer did a good job of trying to keep the characters true to themselves and their characteristics. It's not easy to write how a teenager should act like an adult because of how she was raised yet blend in with kids her age whom she's never been around before. But Amelia did a great job of balancing it out. My biggest gripe and why I couldn't give this book 4 stars is the ending - it was very no-climatic for me. There was a huge buildup for a war and then aside from the fight between two characters, it just felt like someone deflated the whole thing. But I am still interested to see what happens next.

All in all, I really enjoyed the world that Amelia created and the characters. I am looking forward to reading her next installment in this series.

...more

flag 3 likes · Like · see review

Dec 28, 2013 Soumi rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: aliens, arc-e-galley, sci-fi, space-fiction, young-adult

Meh...

flag 3 likes · Like · see review

Dec 04, 2013 Milo (BOK) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: notable-2014-releases, science-fiction, young-adult, 2014-releases-read

The Review: http://thefoundingfields.com/2014/01/....

“The Almost Girl draws you in with its excellent cover and keeps you hooked right the way through. Fun, fast paced – it’s a young adult novel that manages to be original with a kickass female protagonist and a confident narrative. Recommended.” ~Bane of Kings, The Founding Fields

"Seventeen-year-old Riven comes from a world ravaged by a devastating android war, a parallel world to Earth.

A Legion General, she is the right hand of the young Pri The Review: http://thefoundingfields.com/2014/01/....

“The Almost Girl draws you in with its excellent cover and keeps you hooked right the way through. Fun, fast paced – it’s a young adult novel that manages to be original with a kickass female protagonist and a confident narrative. Recommended.” ~Bane of Kings, The Founding Fields

"Seventeen-year-old Riven comes from a world ravaged by a devastating android war, a parallel world to Earth.

A Legion General, she is the right hand of the young Prince of Neospes. In Neospes, she has everything: rank, responsibility and respect. But when Prince Cale sends her away to find his long-lost brother, Caden, who has been spirited back to modern day Earth, Riven finds herself in uncharted territory.

Thrown out of her comfort zone but with the mindset of a soldier and in a race against time to bring Caden home, Riven has to learn how to be a girl in a realm that is the opposite of what she knows.

Will Riven be able to find the strength to defy her very nature? Or will she become the monstrous soldier she was destined to be?"

The second novel that I’m reviewing of the year is another Strange Chemistry book that I finished at the end of last year, and it’s another strong read from the Angry Robot Young Adult imprint. I mentioned in my review of Shadowplay that I haven’t read a book that I’ve disliked from the publisher yet and that trend is continuing through The Almost Girl, a book that won me over based on its cover alone. Just look at how awesome that cover is. It draws you in, and once you start reading, you’re hooked. It’s unputdownable, fast paced and lots of fun. The characters are fun and engaging and the plot is mostly original as well, even if there are a few cliched elements thrown in there which could have been avoided (I’ll touch more on this later). The Almost Girl is a fun book that does suffer from a few problems, but still manages to be a pretty solid read.

The book itself combines bits and peices from a lot of different genres. It’s a part science fiction thriller, part romance (but then, which young adult novel doesn’t have some form of romance in it these days?), and also throws in the involvement of some conspiracy theories in there as well. It deals with a lot of stuff and covers more plot ground than most other young adult books do in in two or more books – you’re certainly getting your money’s worth in terms of content, but despite this – you’ll tend to breeze through the whole book pretty quickly. Like Pantomime, Shift and other Strange Chemistry books, The Almost Girl has got the pace factor nailed down. It never stops being fast and there’s always something going on. However, whilst there may always be something going on, that doesn’t mean that it’s always good. Lots of young adult novels set on Earth tend to have some sort of high school involvement of some form and this book turns out to be no different, and frankly – this section just came across as cliched and one of the more dull parts in an otherwise exciting read. It’s not helped by some inconsistency when it comes to the main character, Riven – who is, like other popular young adult heroes before her, up to date with a lot of pop culture references – and we possibly get too many for one novel, which is a shame because it felt like it detracted from the plot a bit. However, saying that – I did like the reference to Stargate. But for someone familiar with most pop culture stuff be, well – more experienced with keeping her cover story? A part that frustrated me was the mention that where she came from her people had one name, rather than two. An inconsistency made even more glaring when the character is an experienced general – and I don’t know about you, but even at seventeen, Generals don’t tend to make that many basic mistakes.

The main character, Riven – heralds from world that runs parallel to Earth, only a lot worse off, ravaged by wars and authoritarian leadership. In short, it’s a nice place to live, and is bursting with enough depth that we could easily have had the whole novel set on the world without ever going to Earth at all. So Amalie Howard gets a point for that – giving some strong depth to a world without letting it dominate the flow of the storyline. Riven also seems to get stuff done pretty quickly too, at fourteen, she’s already a General and a gifted killer. When we meet her at seventeen, she’s spent three years on Earth already. Three years on the hunt for Caden, the Prince’s long lost brother in order to return the wayward relative, where his fate will most likely be death. Of course, to add some more tension into the book, Riven is not the only one hunting him for there are others after the boy as well.

Overall then, the book is fun and enjoyable despite its flaws. I couldn’t help but enjoy it and I think you will too, especially if you’re a a young adult or love books in that genre like myself, or are even both. Riven is a strong and confident character, and manages to be likable and rootable. The Almost Girl sees another good book from Strange Chemistry, and despite its problems it’s well worth a look.

VERDICT: 3.5/5

...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Oct 29, 2013 Kirsty-Marie Jones rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2014, arc, jan, review-copy, ya

-Actual Rating: 3.5

Firstly, look at the pretty cover! Pretty and appropriate to the book. *clap*

What drew me to the book was the infinite possibilities of parallel universes, seriously, I love it. And with infinite possibilities brings so many different versions that is completely fascinating and for most of it The Almost Girl didn't fail. It was completely badass.

That said, I'm not going to beat around the bush. I did not like the first half of it, at all. It was repetitive, cold, a little ann ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

May 02, 2014 Jilly rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: hated-it, fantasy, sci-fi, y-a

I gave the last three books I read 5 stars, so I guess my luck was bound to run out. Or, maybe the good writing gave me high expectations that could not possibly be met by normal books. Maybe my standards just became impossibly high. Let's see if I'm wrong here, shall we?

First of all, we have our main character, Riven.

Her name was supposed to be Raven, but they recorded it wrong so she was stuck with this name. Even though her family was extremely wealthy and powerful in her world, her best fri I gave the last three books I read 5 stars, so I guess my luck was bound to run out. Or, maybe the good writing gave me high expectations that could not possibly be met by normal books. Maybe my standards just became impossibly high. Let's see if I'm wrong here, shall we?

First of all, we have our main character, Riven.

Her name was supposed to be Raven, but they recorded it wrong so she was stuck with this name. Even though her family was extremely wealthy and powerful in her world, her best friend was a prince, and she was a prodigy - nope, clerical error - you will forever have the name that someone accidentally gave you.

She became a general in the army at the age of 14 and was "feared by men". And yet, Riven is the biggest damsel-in-distress I have ever met. She has fainted and blacked out in this books more times than a 19th century socialite with the vapors. But, luckily, her "target", the guy she is kidnapping, has a crush on her and keeps rescuing her. He revives her several times, nurses her back to health when she is sick, and saves her life when her "superior fighting skills" get her ass kicked. She is an "agent of death in a girl's body"... yeah right. They could dress up my dog in a general's costume and it would be more believable.... hey, I like that idea. Note to self: buy general's costume for dog on amazon later... that would be so cute! But, I digress.

She's gullible and stupid. To be a general, wouldn't she need the ability to see through people's obvious lies and manipulations? This girl gets manipulated more than playdough. She is an easy mark. She doesn't even see through the obvious people who are helping Caden. I saw through them within the first couple of sentences of their characters being introduced. No wonder it has taken her three years to find him. And, oh yeah, she didn't find him. He found her - rescued her. Nice work, General Genius.

Next comes Caden, the leading male. He is a real great guy. He has a girlfriend that he calls a bitch. She is your typical catty bitch-girl that is written in too many books as the slut-shamed bad girl who deserves to lose her man. So, why did this great and awesome guy go out with her for the last year? "Because it was easy". Nice. But, he sees the error of his ways now. He tells Riven that she is "not like any of the girls he knows". Oh, you mean, like, "you understand me, baby, you're not like my wife, she's a bitch and doesn't treat me right..." I see a bright future for Caden and Riven - until he meets a girl who is not like her a year later.

As for the story - it's a freaking mess. Parallel worlds with zombie armies. But, wait, there are Guardians who are supposed to be watching out for problems who suck at their jobs, and there is a group over them called the Faction that is supposed to be ruling over all of the parallel worlds who suck at their job. (Why else would their be so many inconsistencies?) So, let's put the fate of two worlds on the back of a 17 yr old girl who may or may not be a very poor excuse for an "agent of death". Great idea. If this is the best that the world of Neospes has to offer, I would say that we, the people of Earth, are pretty safe from those morons. ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Oct 09, 2013 Jeann (Happy Indulgence) rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, review-copy, sci-fi

This review appears on Happy Indulgence. Check it out for more reviews!

With that awesome cover, a sci-fi story and a kick ass heroine, it was hard not to resist The Almost Girl. Sci-fi seems to be the next big thing on the YA front at the moment, and with words like “android war” and “parallel universe” I had to pick this one up.

If you want a strong heroine, Riven is as tough as they come as a Legion General, sent to Earth to retrieve her target. She has quick healing abilities, super awesome fi This review appears on Happy Indulgence. Check it out for more reviews!

With that awesome cover, a sci-fi story and a kick ass heroine, it was hard not to resist The Almost Girl. Sci-fi seems to be the next big thing on the YA front at the moment, and with words like “android war” and “parallel universe” I had to pick this one up.

If you want a strong heroine, Riven is as tough as they come as a Legion General, sent to Earth to retrieve her target. She has quick healing abilities, super awesome fighting skills, plus endless speed and stamina. Riven kicks major ass, and in this book, she showcases her skills from defeating fearsome Vector soldiers, reanimated corpses who are designed to be soldiers.

Of course things never run as smoothly as expected, as Riven runs into Shae, her sister who is protecting her target. With a complicated past and betrayal in the mix, the two have a lot to sort out the get Cale back to the planet Neospes. Riven also finds herself attracted to Caden, who looks exactly like her lord Cale, and insta-love happens and they are both suddenly in love with each other. I wasn’t really convinced of the romance, especially as Caden’s girlfriend is the blonde mean girl type and Riven is an ice queen with blue/green hair. The two pretty much fall for each other right away, and all of a sudden they are in love which annoying.

The character development also left a bit to be desired and I found myself confused some of the time. I was not sure why Caden was suddenly kicking ass with all these fighting skills that he learnt from Shae, and how easily he accepted Riven and Shae’s explanation from being from a parallel universe. His role further in the book is even more difficult to believe but somehow there was no difficulty accepting it. From the way Shae and Riven were hostile with each other, they were suddenly working together and it seemed like I had missed something again. Riven herself seemed inconsistent, on one hand she’s beating the Vectors but she literally faints 3 times in the book.

What kept me reading was the kickass action and the fast paced sci-fi plot, with the concept of Vectors who are basically reanimated humans being really fascinating and also how they ‘evert’ to another planet. There was also a lot of betrayal, backstabbing and complex family relations between Riven, her family, and even her lord Cale.

After being attacked on Earth and trying to escape from Vectors, the two “evert” to the other planet and the story begins from there. We are then brought to Neospes in the second half which is full of twists and turns. Some I found significant, and others seemed to be randomly thrown in, without any build up of them earlier in the text. I was surprised to find out what an asshole Cale turned out to be, after endless doting and loyalty from Riven.

Overall, The Almost Girl featured some awesome sci-fi world building and kick ass action scenes with a strong heroine, but there were a few things that were left to be desired.

I received a copy of The Almost Girl from Netgalley and Strange Chemistry in exchange for an honest review. ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Oct 15, 2013 Braiden rated it it was ok · review of another edition

There’s nothing more satisfying than starting the new year with a review that is not positive. Because yet again I show my honesty, and you read Book Probe for the honest reviews. I mean, what else are you here for than not for the negative to mixed reviews?

The Almost Girl seemed like the perfect read to kick 2014 off with (though I did read at end of 2013)—sci-fi, intergalactic world, Strange Chemisty/Angry Robot, great cover. Those are four features I like. And I foolishly believed that that c There’s nothing more satisfying than starting the new year with a review that is not positive. Because yet again I show my honesty, and you read Book Probe for the honest reviews. I mean, what else are you here for than not for the negative to mixed reviews?

The Almost Girl seemed like the perfect read to kick 2014 off with (though I did read at end of 2013)—sci-fi, intergalactic world, Strange Chemisty/Angry Robot, great cover. Those are four features I like. And I foolishly believed that that combination was going to be lethal and satisfying and worthy of remembrance. Yet The Almost Girl wasn’t. The novel read like a first draft, it fell into tropes, and was completely and utterly boring, devoid of any actual substance, amusement and unconventionality.

Riven is from another “world” (and we know that because there continually is, “In my world…” at the beginning of every paragraph. I found that to be a pretty pathetic device of world-building, yet we don’t actually learn what world, or rather planet, she came from until further into the book). In her world she is the… let’s just say, the creme de la creme, the best of everything. Riven gets commanded by the prince of Neospen, Cale, to retrieve an item—that being Caden—from Earth, a planet (ours, obviously) in another “world” that Caden was deposited and secretly under protection by Guardians, and surprisingly, Riven’s sister. As she does Riven discovers a lot about herself, her family, and who Caden really is.

As I said previously, The Almost Girl reads like a first draft. There was no real substance to the story, to the world, and the characters. This is mostly in part due to the constant dropping of information as the novel progressed (In my world…), which seemed as though Howard created the world and characters as she was writing (In my world…), as if Howard decided to implement past events or needed information as they popped into her head. This made the novel inconsistent yet monotonous.

Read the rest of this review at Book Probe Reviews. ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Nov 07, 2013 Leigh rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: arc, reviewed, netgalley-read

ARC provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

One look at this cover and I knew I had to read this book to find out if the main character was as fierce as she looked. The Almost Girl did not disappoint. It was this SciFi lover's dream book full of fast-paced action, twists and turns that will keep you guessing, and one kick-ass heroine.

Riven has trained all her life to be the best. Now, at seventeen, she is at the top as Legion General of Neospes, a world coming back from a disastr ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Jan 07, 2014 Thibaut Nicodème rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: snark, dnf

DNF at 10%. You can find my detailed analysis on my blog, the Snark Theater (part 1 • part 2)

It's kind of impressive the ways some authors find to fuck up a female protagonist so deeply and so fast. You'd think have a protagonist who's also female wouldn't be so hard.

But no, Riven is a military leader and a genius, except she has no understanding of strategy—she doesn't even have a cover set up after three years of back and forth between her world and ours. Plus, her entire quest is to find a gu ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Oct 31, 2013 Miranda rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, sci-fi-spaceships-and-stuff, netgalley, did-not-finish

This is a DNF review. Pages read: 73/289

I tried to be into it, I did. And admittedly, it started off strong and the beginnings of the world building were good. But then Riven and the narration of the book shame Caden's girlfriend as being slutty and a "bitch," and--I don't know. It kind of just ruined the entire thing for me, because seriously, you can create a world where there's virtually no sexual assault and where women can hold positions of power and command with no problem, but it's appare ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review