I really enjoyed this book, and it only took me a few hours to read. I wasn't exactly hooked right tin the beginning... there was something about the flashbacks of how her "condition" started that bugged me... but later I was easily hooked. I really like the characters, and there were some twists I didn't see coming. I'll definitely be picking up the sequel. ( )

The premise: Janie keeps getting sucked into other people's dreams. And by getting sucked in, I do mean sucked in. If someone falls asleep in study hall, Janie can't help it. She's there, in the dream, while to the outsider, it looks like she's having an epileptic fit. She's tired of her ability, tired of her helplessness, and tired of knowing the inmost desires of all of her classmates. Until one day she falls into a nightmare of terrifying violence, and that scares her more than anything she's ever experienced before, especially since the dreamer is the guy she might be falling in love with.

My Rating

Worth the Cash: I wouldn't go out and buy these books in hardcover, mind you, so obviously I'm waiting to get my hands on the sequel, Fade, until it comes out in trade, but I will pick it up. Wake was very enjoyable and I'm happy to read forward. The premise itself IS interesting and different, and I'm looking forward to seeing how McMann develops Janie and her abilities in the later books. It's an incredibly fast read, and while there are moments that'll induce eyebrow-raising, honestly, the story itself is so enjoyable you kind of end up not caring. At least, I didn't. I'm glad I grabbed it.

Review style: it's a short book and it'll be a short review. Stream-of-conscious, with spoilers, simply because the book's too short NOT to spoil, and there's a few points I want to discuss. If the spoilers don't bother you, you're welcome to read the full review, which is posted at my LJ. As always, comments and discussion are most welcome. :)

REVIEW: Lisa McMann's WAKE

Happy Reading! :) ( )

It was a cute, fast teen read. I expected it to be scarier than it was, and it was actually more of a paranormal teen romance. ( )

http://www.bookgeeks.co.uk/2009/11/03... ( )

I LOVED Wake! It was so good! Really different from what I’m used to reading in urban fantasy. Such a great premise!

Wake is a very quick, very easy read. It’s not all that fast paced, but it’s not necessary for it to be, as things get interesting as soon as anyone goes to sleep nearby. There isn’t exactly a resolution in to the main story, but there is a resolution to a plot thread that doesn’t really have anything to do with Janie, but the effects will lead on to a big change for Janie in the second book Fade.

Wake is very much a first book; you find out about the main characters, learn about Janie’s dream issues, and go along with her as she discovers more about them. There’s also the set up of the almost separate plot thread, which leads to more happening for Janie.

Not a huge deal happens in this novel in the great scheme of things, a lot of emphasis is put on Janie trying to work out how and why she slips into other people’s dreams, and how she can control it, and her relationship with her love interest, Caleb, but that doesn’t mean the book isn’t interesting. There are a great set of characters, and as I said, the idea of slipping into other people’s dreams is just incredible!

If I was going to criticise the book at all, I would criticise Caleb-as-a-boyfriend. Generally, he’s fine, but when he’s expressing his feelings, it’s not completely believable in my opinion. I had no trouble over looking it though, because generally speaking, the book is amazing!

I highly recommend this book to everyone! Wake is just awesome, and Fade looks even better! A great start to what looks to be a fantastic series! ( )