Friday, January 27, 2012

Review: Incarnate by Jodi Meadows

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Incarnate
Jodi Meadows
Release date: January 31st, 2012
by HarperCollins Children’s Books

Goodreads / Purchase

NEWSOUL
Ana is new. For thousands of years in Range, a million souls have been reincarnated over and over, keeping their memories and experiences from previous lifetimes. When Ana was born, another soul vanished, and no one knows why.

NOSOUL
Even Ana’s own mother thinks she’s a nosoul, an omen of worse things to come, and has kept her away from society. To escape her seclusion and learn whether she’ll be reincarnated, Ana travels to the city of Heart, but its citizens are suspicious and afraid of what her presence means. When dragons and sylph attack the city, is Ana to blame?

HEART
Sam believes Ana’s new soul is good and worthwhile. When he stands up for her, their relationship blooms. But can he love someone who may live only once, and will Ana’s enemies—human and creature alike—let them be together? Ana needs to uncover the mistake that gave her someone else’s life, but will her quest threaten the peace of Heart and destroy the promise of reincarnation for all?

*A copy was provided by HarperCollins for review purposes*

NEWSOUL
Incarnate gives us a fresh, new soul in YA. Originality at its core, Jodi Meadows has written an incredible world with dragons, sylphs, laser pistols, temple with heartbeats; really- how much more imaginative can it get? I was blown away with the imagery that formed in my mind while reading this book. It’s a gorgeous, but notably frightening world. I did have a bit of difficulty swallowing the fact that, since everyone is always being reincarnated, they give birth to people they already know. It could even be your own father. However, it is a way of life for them, who am I to say what’s unreasonable? I’ve heard of a mother who used her daughter’s egg to get pregnant, which basically means she gave birth to a grandchild of sorts. Is this weird? Of course! But we’re living in a world where you can have babies that are literally not your own, so it makes sense to think that living for thousands of years with reincarnation would desensitize people to things that presently blow our minds.

NOSOUL
Ana has had to live with her mother telling her she was a Nosoul for all of her 18 years. This turned her into a deeply defensive, cautious young woman who has difficulty putting her trust in others. Ana is a remarkably easy character to like with a realistic voice that stands out. She may have had a hard life, but this makes her loves and joys come from the heart. It’s not fake or shallow when she feels something, it’s with her whole heart and soul. Sam, the first person to show her kindness, has a heart of gold, but more importantly; the patience of a stone. They have a positively sweet romance that creeps up on you. You suddenly realize you’ve been longing for them to be together. I was delighted by how perfectly paced their relationship flourished.

HEART
We’ve got originality; we’ve got charming characters; but let’s not forget the fascinating plot that surrounds it all. Mystery after mystery flows inside these pages. I was starved for more information as much as Ana. Why is she the only newsoul? Where did Ciana go? Why was the town of Heart just sitting there? A temple with a heartbeat? It’s all so mystifying. We don’t get all the answers in this novel, but we do get some, as well as one heck of a promise: that this is the start of an epic series! 

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Giselle

Canadian blogger, wife, mother, coffee lover, and sarcastic at heart! She has had a love for all things bookish since before Amazon and eReaders existed *le gasp*. You can also find her organizing tours and other fun things at Xpresso Book Tours.

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31 Responses to “Review: Incarnate by Jodi Meadows”

  2. Ari (Reading After Midnight)

    I am so glad that you liked it too 😀 These days we have many books in common with similar ratings. I can’t wait to see where the story will take us in the next book, you’re right there’s still a lot of mystery to discover 🙂

  3. Alexa

    I’m DYING to read this – I cannot wait to have the ARC make its way into my hands. It’s been one of my highly anticipated releases ever since I saw the cover for the first time 🙂

  4. Amy

    I can’t wait to read Incarnate!! I have had it pre-ordered for a while and am really excited that it’s almost here. I got it for nook, but it’s really pretty so I am sure I will want a physical copy too. Great review! I am even more excited for it now.

  5. Natalia Belikov @ Dazzling Reads

    A new Epic series holy cow! and I received the e-arc on netgalley but didnt grab it right away, then like 4-5 days passes and I remembered to go downloaded it and the publisher just disable my option to grab the book!! sniff!!! I had no idea that could happen… now I have no Incarnate to read T_T… sigh…

    great review my dear! I SO WANNA READ THIS BOOK HOLY MOLLY!!

    ★Dazzling Reads★

  6. Giselle

    Thanks guys!

    @Natalia: Yeah that happened to me once too so now I always download them the same day I get the email and store them on my reader. They often archive titles after a bit and when they do the book’s gone.

    @Ari: I notice we mostly like the same books too! 🙂 Glad you enjoyed this!

  8. Andrea @The Bookish Babes

    I will give the author credit, this is a completely unique story. I did love Sam and Ana, Sam’s friends, and some of the ideas in Incarnate.
    There were so many things, though, that didn’t sync w/me. I felt the world-building should have been expanded. I needed more to go on.
    I liked Incarnate well enough, Sam and Ana saved it for me.
    I’m glad you enjoyed it so much. Great review!

  11. Giselle

    @Andrea: Thanks Andrea. I agree Ana and Sam are great characters I’m glad you still enjoyed it!

    @Christi: Thanks! I hope you like it Christi I’m curious to see your review after! 🙂

    @Nina & Anna: Thanks ladies! <3

  13. Jessi

    Beautiful review! I loved this one SO MUCH and I have to admit that you put it into words way better than me. 😉 The originality was what really caught my attention because it was so nice not to read something and feel like I knew EXACTLY what was going to happen.

  14. Lauren M

    I freaking loved this book. Like, I’m almost at fangirl status. *cough* Uh, so, I’m really glad you enjoyed it! Like you said, the worldbuilding is great, and the romance is so sweet. Great review, Giselle! 🙂
    – Lauren

  18. Jaskirat@SeeitORreadit

    AHHHHHHHHHHHH sooooo glad to hear you enjoyed this one!!! The romance sounds soooo sweet and though the concept is a bit complicated it is still very unique! I’m surprised to hear the plot consists of mystery and that makes me want to pick up the book even more! It sounds awesome…me want!!! Great review 🙂

  19. Kathy Ann Coleman

    This sounds really good. Gah! Another book I’m going to want to buy at release and I’m already drowning as it is. :p Anyway, great review! I wasn’t all that interested in it before and I think you’ve succeeded in changing my mind.

  23. elena

    I’ve heard of a mother who used her daughter’s egg to get pregnant, which basically means she gave birth to a grandchild of sorts.

    oh gosh REALLY??! I loved the way you structured this review! I was blown away by the imagery too, I think Jodi Meadows definitely created a unique world. Ana is so easy to love, I just wanted to hug her! I’m interested to see how the rest of the series go. Lovely lovely review.

  25. Janiera

    Great review! So many people have read this book while others love it some hate it. I think I still will give this a try because it sounds really,really great and I’m a sucker for fantasy.

  27. Elodie

    AHHHHH I need this book now !! It sounds amazing .. I’ve read a couple of negative reviews but I really don’t care because it sounds amazing !!
    Great review Giselle (as always) !!

  29. Amy

    I have seen a lot about this book recently! It sounds really interesting! Great review Giselle! Can’t wait to get my hands on this one!

  31. REBECCA@ReadingWishes

    Have this book sitting on my shelf and though I was already looking forward to it your epic review has made me even more excited to finally sit down and get stuck into it. Hopefully I’ll make some time for it in June! So many books, so little time..

    🙂