Asunder

Review originally posted on http://apageofheaven.wordpress.com

5/5

Asunder broke my heart, mended it, then shattered it again. My heart's current state: pieced together in all the wrong places. Just like in Incarnate , Jodi Meadows has somehow put music into words. I loved everything about this book. The story, character, world - just everything.

After Templedark, Ana was discriminated more than ever in Heart, some people even tried to physically attack her. However, she handled everything perfectly. Ana's one of the purest characters I've ever come across and her kindness and selflessness was reflected in her every action. She's not perfect (evident in what she did to Meuric back in Incarnate), just a very good person. Although she show more continues to struggle with the effects of her cruel upbringing, she slowly learns and grows with her experiences and the encouragement of Sam and her other friends.

Talking about Sam, I know I've said this before in my review of Incarnate , but his sensitivity and love of music really sets him apart from the typical buff, tough and rough guys found in YA books. It's interesting that not only is he helping Ana develop, but she is changing him for the better too. Being with Ana made Sam realise that he was capable of so much more than just making music, that he can be brave and strong. This mutual development strengthens their relationship and made it all the more endearing.

It's hard to describe the plot without giving spoilers but basically, it felt like I was thrown a whole bunch of puzzle pieces and as the story progressed, the pieces fitted themselves together. Mystery practically radiated from the book and the end was completely satisfying. The truth about Janan and reincarnation would be revealed, be prepared. Moreover, I loved the part about sylph. I won't say how everything is linked, but the ending (concerning sylph) really broke my heart.

Wherever the story goes from here, I just can't wait to find out. Jodi Meadows have the amazing ability to end off with a hooking conclusion without needing some crazy cliffhanger. You'll get a partial sense of closure so you wouldn't die from shock. I am definitely thanking her for not temporarily killing my mind like other authors with their cliffhangers. So now my wait for the finale of the trilogy begins. 2014 simply cannot come soon enough.

- Adel show less

4.5/5 stars!

You guys, this book totally needs to come with a warning on it: DANGER! YOU WILL GET KICKED IN THE FEELS REPEATEDLY! Seriously. I was so not ready for "Asunder" and everything that goes on in it. But you know what? That was a good thing. Everything I loved about book one only gets stronger in book two - so much so that I feel like Meadows finally knows her world and her characters really, really well, and has a grasp on everything at last. She's grown a lot in between these two books, and it really shows. If you've read "Incarnate", you simply must continue your journey with Ana, Sam, and the rest in "Asunder".

Okay, so we more or less pick up right where we left off - after what's now being called "Templedark", or the final show more events that happened in book one. Things are pretty hectic - no one's sure if those lost that night will be reincarnated, and everyone's casting the stink eye at Ana (or nearly everyone) as a scapegoat. Everything is so clean and tightly written in this book, it leaves no holes, no areas for weakness, nor any for a wandering of your attention span. I feel like Meadows really grew in all of the technical areas of things - plots, arcs, character building, worldbuilding, all of it. ALL THE THINGS. But what perhaps gets expanded the most in this book alongside character development is the worldbuilding - we learn so much in this book that I wish we'd had a bit more of in book one in terms of history - how Heart really came to be, and the reincarnation cycle, as well as the other quasi-sentient creatures in the area (particularly, phoenixes and sylphs) have affected the development of Heart and its people. None of this is found through easy methods - there is a lot of pain in this book, but it's spent well in order to find out more about Heart and the world around it, mystical as it may be. Meadows' sensory imagery here is some of her best yet - anything she described, it felt real. Startlingly so.

Meadows also cleverly inserts a new character, Cris, and kind of sticks more toward the relationship web school of worldbuilding - that is, building a world more through the main cast and how they relate to each other. Cris was a goldmine of information, but it had to be worked for. But even for a more minor character who relates in a big way to Ana and Sam, he's very solid, very sturdily built with a more or less complete history of how he relates to everyone, which kind of unfolds as a sub-plot throughout the book. It was nice to see how Meadows worked him in, and I hope to see more of that in book three.

But perhaps what I loved about this book the most was its focus on a topic near and dear to my heart: genderfluidity/genderqueering. When Sam, Stef, and Cris talk about their lifetimes, they openly talk about how they weren't the same gender they are now. It isn't couched in shame or bullying or suicide the way it is in most YA lit, it simply just IS. It exists as a fact of the reality for the million souls living in Heart - you won't be the same gender each lifetime, and because of that, you should probably keep around clothing so that when you come back next time, you'll have something to wear regardless. I think this hits the most heavily within the last third of the book, where the Cris/Stef/Sam/Ana love rhombus unfolds and we see the history particularly between Cris/Stef/Sam over a few lifetimes. The way it was so casually talked about was absolutely elating, and I wish more authors had the courage to do that within YA lit without having to use the contemporary crutch of suicide/bullying/etc. It's risky to talk about because right now, it's the new frontier in terms of sexuality and development, and due to the lack of information (or correct information), it can freak people out to the point of hate crimes. So the fact that we have one book talking about it at all in a positive way? That's a win for me.

That being said, the love rhombus is very interesting this time around. We find a lot more out about some of the more minor cast characters from book one, and how it's going to affect things this time around. There's a lot of pain and feels going around for everyone here, especially in this romantic arena. However, because of the way that Meadows constructed it, I have no issues with the whole love triangle/rhombus thing. She pulled it off so well that all I could do was sit back and read how it all played out.

The rest of the technical areas (character development and plot) were so well done and flawless, I'm not even going there. I don't have to. Everyone develops really well through a lot of pain/torturing of darlings for emotional payoff and personal journey sub-arcs, which help form a twisty braid of plot. Gorgeously wrought, but not easy to read because all of those feels getting hit repeatedly. Ouch.

Final verdict? If you haven't started this series, what are you waiting for? Definitely one of my picks for best of 2013 so far, "Asunder" is out now from HarperTeen in North America. Trust me. You need to read it.

(posted to goodreads, shelfari, librarything, and birthofanewwitch.wordpress.com) show less

So. Many. FEEEEEEEEEEEELS.



First of all, Jodi Meadows has this fantastic way of making readers consider the morals of reincarnation. One million souls who become experts in their area of specialty vs. new souls and their new, though less experienced, ideas? It's a question you have to wonder about in a story like this and I think Jodi has done a tremendous job trying to tackle that question throughout the first two books, and I'm betting the fantastic continues into the next.



Then there's the characters. They grow and change and learn so much. Everyone besides Ana has been alive for thousands of years, yet many of them are becoming someone new, someone they've never been before. It's remarkable to imagine people who have been the same, show more or very similar, for so long suddenly becoming different, all thanks to Ana. Strong, clever, and oh so kind Ana. It's hard not to love her. She's naive at times and make mistakes, but she learns fast and is always improving herself. And Sam. Oh Sam. Pardon me while I swoon? Sam continues to be an incredible love interest in Asunder. And there's also a new character introduced, who I absolutely ADORE, but I won't say anything else. Y'all will find him.

The relationships in Asunder are complex and wonderful and changing. Friendships are growing stronger. Some reveal their true nature. Every relationship evolves in some form and each is significant to the story as a whole. It's always lovely when each part of a book is super important, you know?

Then there is the story itself, where every piece falls into place, entwining perfectly. There's action and mystery and KISSING and just...*sigh* There are no words for the perfection of the story itself. It's pretty much everything I can ask for in a book.

And do I even have to talk about the perf of the writing? I've mention that she weaves an incredible story and introduces a very interesting, complex topic to consider. But she also has such a way with words that I can picture the world really well. I can see it all in my head and it makes sense and I feel like I'm in the story. I'm always utterly swept away and entranced by her words.

If you haven't read Incarnate, why are you reading this anyway? Go buy your copy and rejoice in its beauty. If you have, make sure you pick up Asunder today. This is NOT a sequel that disappoints. show less

Incarnate was hands down the most unique book I read last year. It had dragons, fantastical equivalents to iPhone's (the SED), music, reincarnation, music, a mysterious higher power, a masquerade ball, music, and a to-die-for hot guy. Seriously, you can’t get any cooler than that. And while I had a couple issues with it, mostly concerning unanswered questions, I loved it and went into Asunder with high hopes and a long list of questions. I was so happy to discover that what awaited me exceeded my expectations and answered every single question, while raising even more.

I liked the plot even more in Asunder than in Incarnate, because now that Ana has come to terms with who she is and learned more about the secrets of the temple, she’s show more putting her knowledge to good use. One problem I had with her in the first book is that she seemed kind of whiny, but not anymore!

Oh Sam. You’re amazing! Even though Ana pushes you around sometimes, you’re amazing. You might even make mistakes that bug me, but that’s okay. I still think it’s weird that you used to be a girl, and were in love with a bunch of other people, and still claim that you’re in in love with Ana, but actions speak louder than words. You treat Ana like a gem. You respect her and protect her and I love that about you. But if you stop it with Ana, I’m still available.

*ends swooning over fictional boy*

I love the symbolism in each of these books. Incarnate was obviously butterflies, and in this one it’s roses. That symbolism is played throughout the story. The way the roses came into play was very interesting, and made me curious as to what symbols we might find in Book #3.

I loved learning all the mysteries behind the Sylph, Janan. and the Temple. My jaw was literally dropping as I read. I’m still trying to figure out some things, but I think it’ll take until Book #3 comes out for anything to be settled. Seriously, my head is still spinning and I read this a month ago! show less

One of my favorite young adult debuts last year was Jodi Meadows’ Incarnate, a sci-fi/fantasy tale featuring a world filled with one million souls who have been reincarnated for thousands of years until one day a soul disappears – and a new soul takes its place. Last month book two of the planned trilogy, Asunder, was released and I snatched it up the moment it hit shelves ready to see what happened next with newsoul Ana in this world that looks with suspicion at unknown souls. Would Ana’s heart and soul be torn Asunder?

What I Loved

Ana Is Still Awesome: The story picks up right where we left off, with all the quality of the first book and a smooth continuation of the events that take place after Templedark. Ana is the heart and show more soul (pardon the pun) of this trilogy, and she continues to be an incredible heroine with a unique voice. She may have her fears and trepidations, but she stands up for what she believes is right and is determined to make things safe in Heart for any newsouls that follow her. And in Asunder, they are starting to appear. She is a very intense little character who takes things very seriously, and I still adore her. There is something in her fiery spirit that appeals to me, and I was so glad she wasn’t softened up in Asunder.

A Relationship In Question: Ana may not be a light-hearted character, but she loves Sam deeply and in Asunder their relationship starts facing some real challenges which I appreciated. There are massive differences in their experience levels (after all, Sam has been around for thousands of years), which both characters are beginning to realize. Tension is working its way into their romance, as they struggle with their feelings. Sam starts taking friends’ concerns a little too much to heart, while Ana is dealing with saying three little words…”I love you.” I can hardly wait to see how their romance plays out in the final book.

A Killer Finale: Author Jodi Meadows ramps up the action and tension a lot in this installment, so once again I had difficulty putting this book down when I had other things to do. Inevitably, I was up until the early morning hours trying to finish Asunder, anxious to see what happened next. What I got was a killer finale! There is a huge reveal involving the Temple and the people of Heart at the end of Asunder that left me wanting to shake Jodi Meadows until she spilled the rest of the story right then and there (sorry, Jodi!). She even managed to throw in a twist with the sylph, as if the reveal wasn’t big enough already. I NEED book 3!!!

What I Liked

Friends And Enemies: We are introduced to an interesting new character in Cris, the creator of purple (or blue depending on who you ask in Heart) roses, and get to know others – such as Lidea, Stef, and Armande – better. I really liked Cris a lot, even though he wasn’t a huge part of the story until the end. I still find it a little creepy that all these souls have been in love with each other in their past lives, but it is fascinating to see how Ana’s relationship with Sam disrupts things in everyone’s current incarnation. It was just great exploring the people of Heart a little bit more, and seeing how their beliefs and prejudices effect their actions. We also have a new person speaking out against newsouls in Asunder, Merton, who is one of those big blow-hards always itching to take down anyone different. And with newsouls in addition to Ana beginning to appear, he’s getting the people of Heart riled up awfully fast.

A Theme Rises: The theme of prejudice moves to the forefront in Asunder, with violence against Ana and anyone supporting her taken to new levels. Not helping matters is Ana’s apparent ability to control sylph, a skill that many feel is dangerous. Things get pretty nasty in Heart as prejudice grows, endangering Ana and adding a real threat to the tale. It is going to be very interesting to see how this plays out in the final book, what with that reveal I spoke about earlier.

What I Didn’t Understand

Temple Scenes: I’m still confused by the Temple that is the center of Heart, and I have no idea why. Meadows sets a few different scenes inside this time around (including that awesome reveal), but I have a very difficult time picturing the inside and wrapping my head around it. This could very well be a problem with my imagination compared to other readers, so take my problem with a grain of salt. I can see that the author has very clear ideas about the Temple and its purpose – I just can’t seem to get on the same wavelength. It is no problem, however, for me to just go with the flow and enjoy everything about this story; I may not understand the Temple, but I can still like its place in the narrative.

Conclusion

Jodi Meadows has followed her incredible young adult sci-fi/fantasy debut, Incarnate, with a sequel that is just as high in quality and smoothly continues the story as if no time has passed. With an awesome heroine in the form of newsoul Ana, her romantic relationship with Sam beginning to feel some strain, and a killer finale that features an important reveal, Asunder manages to be just as soul-stirring as its predecessor. Bring on book 3! show less

Oh, we're really building up to something good here, aren't we? Honestly, Meadows does foreshadowing a lot better than most YA authors do, and I appreciate that. You can totally see there everything is coming from, but you can't exactly see it coming from the first sentence of the book. A nice change for me after having read a whole bunch of predictable books (not that I didn't enjoy those too).

The romance ... well, at one point I was kinda rolling my eyes and thinking that I was so done with it and oh my gods, why can't two characters in love having an argument just fucking TALK to each other??? And what happens in the chapter after that? They fucking talk to each other and reach an agreement. Didn't see that one coming, but I'm so show more happy it did.

Didn't like how the word "asunder" kept popping up. If you're gonna use that as your title, you draw too much attention to it to over-use it like that. Mentioning it more than once or twice is just gonna seem a bit ... I don't even know, just that I don't like it.

But I'm excited for the third book. Ana doesn't have an easy task in front of her, but obviously she's gonna do it because no one else will. I'm hoping we'll get a good solution and explanation: so many YA mysteries/dystopians doesn't really deliver when trying to explain things by the end, but I'm actually hopeful on this one. The fantasy element kinda helps, to be honest. And maybe some more dragons in the next one? That'd be awesome. show less

We pick up pretty close to where Incarnate ended. The residents are essentially picking up the pieces of their life both literally and figuratively after Templedark now that they have to rebuild Heart and bury the many who have died. The worst bit of grief for a lot of the residents come when the first birth after Templedark occurs. The first birth is a Newsoul, which causes more problems for Ana.

I had some problems with Asunder. The cover didn't pull me in, much like Incarnate. It's an interesting concept, but it comes off a bit cheesy. Almost like Lisa Frank or something from the 90′s. I really loved this book, but it felt a bit clunky to me. One of my biggest peeves to me was all the music terminology. I felt like there was a show more disconnect as this didn't seem as central in the first book.

Like Incarnate, I couldn't put this book down! I just had to find out where Ana's story would take her in this book. I felt more connected to the secondary characters in this book than I did in the first one, which was unexpected and wonderful. I loved that many of the unanswered questions from the first book were answered in this one. Of course these were replaced by new questions, but the author kept me on my toes for sure!

The last bit of Asunder felt a bit underwhelmed and had a bit of the middle book charm. I'm eagerly awaiting Phoenix Overture, a novella told from Sam's perspective, and the third book in the series, Infinite. show less