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Fantasy. Young Adult Fiction. Young Adult Literature. HTML:Firstlife, an Everlife NovelONE CHOICE.
TWO REALMS.
NO SECOND CHANCE.
Tenley "Ten" Lockwood is an average seventeen-year-old girl...who has spent the past thirteen months locked inside the Prynne Asylum. The reason? Not her obsession with numbers, but her refusal to let her parents choose where she'll live—after she dies.
There is an eternal truth most of the world has come to accept: Firstlife is merely a dress rehearsal, and show more real life begins after death.
In the Everlife, two realms are in power: Troika and Myriad, longtime enemies and deadly rivals. Both will do anything to recruit Ten, including sending their top Laborers to lure her to their side. Soon, Ten finds herself on the run, caught in a wild tug-of-war between the two realms who will do anything to win the right to her soul. Who can she trust? And what if the realm she's drawn to isn't where the boy she's falling for lives? She just has to stay alive long enough to make a decision... show less
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When I was in high school I LOVED Gena Showalter. I binged her YA and adult romance books like they were the air I needed to breathe. But not? Firstlife... Eh, it was NOT a winner. Like, hardcore not a winner. It had the coolest idea for the story and it sounded SO COOL... but the actual writing? So many short sentences... So many. And it also sounded like an eight year old was writing as a teenager, or a Boomer really trying to pretend they are a teenager in an online group chat.
I worked my way through the book since I wanted to see how it ended (typical cliffhanger), but... It's a no from me. I won't be able to continue on in this series. Hopefully my next Gena read will be better.
One out of five stars. Big NOPE from this previous fan.
I worked my way through the book since I wanted to see how it ended (typical cliffhanger), but... It's a no from me. I won't be able to continue on in this series. Hopefully my next Gena read will be better.
One out of five stars. Big NOPE from this previous fan.
The concept was a very neat idea but the characters and dialogue really made it hard for me to enjoy this book. The only thing I could think about while reading was how fabricated everything felt. For example, Killian is the bad-boy love interest but that’s not necessarily how I viewed him. It was just that that’s how the author wanted me to perceive him. Many other character had the same issue, especially the protagonist. The same character who caves at a moment’s notice when cake is presented before her is supposedly likewise capable of withstanding torture and starvation without blinking an eye. I mean, the two just don’t add up...
The experience was worsened by the odd lines of dialogue that just felt... well, don’t even show more know how to describe them. Here’s an exchange to prove my point:
Really, Killian? That’s you favorite compliment... ever?
I don’t know. I really wanted to love it, but it felt like the author was trying to tell me how I was supposed to feel rather than showing me the events that were happening or allowing the romantic relationship to develop so I could create my own judgement. Once again, I really appreciated the concept, but I don’t think it was realized well. I’ll give it 1.5 stars. show less
The experience was worsened by the odd lines of dialogue that just felt... well, don’t even show more know how to describe them. Here’s an exchange to prove my point:
“And you... wow. Only three words are good enough. Delicious man-meat.”
The warmth of his chuckle strokes my skin. “That’s my favorite compliment ever.”
Really, Killian? That’s you favorite compliment... ever?
I don’t know. I really wanted to love it, but it felt like the author was trying to tell me how I was supposed to feel rather than showing me the events that were happening or allowing the romantic relationship to develop so I could create my own judgement. Once again, I really appreciated the concept, but I don’t think it was realized well. I’ll give it 1.5 stars. show less
This story suffers from a few weaknesses that I've noticed in some other 21st century YA fiction: 1) all the main characters are amazingly gorgeous, males with bulging muscles and simmering eyes and females who are too thin to be healthy; 2) excessive drama; and 3) a world where all the adults are screwed up and the teenagers are the only ones who can save the day. These are the greatest weaknesses I saw.
Otherwise, I enjoyed this novel more than I expected, considering these weaknesses. The action was well paced, and I did care about the characters and how their lives turned out. I found the premise intriguing and would like to continue the series at some point to find out what Ten and her friends all do by the end.
Otherwise, I enjoyed this novel more than I expected, considering these weaknesses. The action was well paced, and I did care about the characters and how their lives turned out. I found the premise intriguing and would like to continue the series at some point to find out what Ten and her friends all do by the end.
The most interesting thing about this story was the tension between light and dark. It seems so obvious, and yet the darkness had much to offer. Ten is stubbornly determined to make her own choices, even at great personal cost.
Firstlife by Gena Showalter is book one of a new series. This is classified as YA, as it should be. This is the story of a teenager named Tenley Lockwood. She has been sent to a prison by her parents because she has so far, refused to choose where she will live after she dies. Her parents have a huge stake in this decision, because a lot of money and prestige will be lost to them if she chooses to go to Troika, when her parents have chosen Myriad. Children have free will to decide, but they spend their life with parents who have chosen one afterlife and typically, choose the same. Those that will not go to a place to be encouraged to choose. This encouragement takes many forms, all of them brutal. The level of brutality is chosen by and show more decided upon by the parents.
Adding to the complication is that each family may have only one child. They have to pin their hope of salvation on that one child. Tenley goes into the prison, called Prynne Asylum, a coddled little rich girl. Her time there has turned her into an almost feral version of her old self. She has learned to fight, and learned to endure. She has also un-learned trust. She is more soldier than anything else, when you meet her at the beginning of the book. But there is more, in Tenley's case. She has a special skill set that is being sought by both Troika and myriad. Both places have sent out someone to try to convince her to join their cause. And they do have a cause, and they are at war with each other. Ten has no idea who to believe, or how to choose, and each day her decision becomes more difficult instead of more clear. And each day it becomes more urgent.
Unique and fascinating storyline. show less
Adding to the complication is that each family may have only one child. They have to pin their hope of salvation on that one child. Tenley goes into the prison, called Prynne Asylum, a coddled little rich girl. Her time there has turned her into an almost feral version of her old self. She has learned to fight, and learned to endure. She has also un-learned trust. She is more soldier than anything else, when you meet her at the beginning of the book. But there is more, in Tenley's case. She has a special skill set that is being sought by both Troika and myriad. Both places have sent out someone to try to convince her to join their cause. And they do have a cause, and they are at war with each other. Ten has no idea who to believe, or how to choose, and each day her decision becomes more difficult instead of more clear. And each day it becomes more urgent.
Unique and fascinating storyline. show less
Firstlife by Gena Showalter features a tough, almost wild, soldier-like teenager, Tenley, who is imprisoned in Prynne Asylum because she refuses to sign a contract which will lock in where she lives after her Firstlife. Her parents really want her to choose Myriad but she hasn't ruled out Troika. Both places have enlisted someone to try to sway her decision. Interestingly, Killion and Archer know each other and are NOT friends! Tenley is attracted to both of them, but still can't figure out how to choose or even whether she can trust and believe either of them.
I found this book painfully slow after the first couple chapters and, although it almost never happens, I actually stopped reading around page 300 because I just couldn't stand show more Tenley's indecision a moment longer. For a tough, powerful female, her inability to make up her mind either to not choose, or to pick one place was just too hard for me to believe, and it ruined the book for me. Although I enjoyed the idea of a life after a first life, I won't be picking up book two. show less
I found this book painfully slow after the first couple chapters and, although it almost never happens, I actually stopped reading around page 300 because I just couldn't stand show more Tenley's indecision a moment longer. For a tough, powerful female, her inability to make up her mind either to not choose, or to pick one place was just too hard for me to believe, and it ruined the book for me. Although I enjoyed the idea of a life after a first life, I won't be picking up book two. show less
I both liked and disliked this novel. The story opens up with an exchange between someone who is a recruiter and a "general" that occurs via email. And let's just say, the language used by both characters is extremely childish. I mean, why would a general say things like "grrr..." via email?! Especially if it is regarding an important mission?! Why is no one taking this seriously?! I liked the character of Tenley a lot because of that spunky attitude and her perseverance. Throughout most of the story, however, I felt like the dilemma with the decision was not really the focus; it always seemed like her mind was made up, and yet she just refused to say anything and kept running and running. Also, she made stupid stereotypical choices - show more which were to be expected, so I'm not going to dwell on those for too long. The story had a great pace and really dove into this awesome world. I liked the details about the different realms and the way in which it was all depicted. I wish the author had spent more time establishing the positives and negative of each realm; by the middle of the novel, it just seemed like one was good and one was evil, which I don't think was the point. Either way, the story has me interested enough to read the sequel. show less
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123 works; 11 members
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181+ Works 41,860 Members
Gena Showalter writes in the genres of contemporary romance, paranormal romance, and young adult fiction. She is the author of the Alien Huntress series, Tales of an Extraordinary Girl series, Atlantis series, Lords of the Underworld series, and Everlife series. Her other books include The Stone Prince, The Pleasure Slave, and The Darkest show more Seduction. Her books have appeared on the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
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Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- Firstlife
- Original publication date
- 2017
- People/Characters
- Tenley Lockwood
- Important places
- Prynne Asylum; Troika; Myriad
- Epigraph
- It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epock of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkn... (show all)ess, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.
Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities - First words
- Duuude. A heads-up would have been nice.
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)"I pledge my life to..." I suck in a breath, knowing deep down it's my last, and as I release it, I whisper, "Troika."
- Blurbers
- Maas, Sarah J.; Cast, P.C.; Cole, Kresley; Cast, Kristen; Higgins, Wendy; St. Claire, Roxanne (show all 7); McGarry, Katie
- Original language
- English
- Canonical DDC/MDS
- 813.6
- Canonical LCC
- PZ7.S5591435
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- 1,044
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- Reviews
- 28
- Rating
- (3.41)
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- Dutch, English, German, Swedish
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- ISBNs
- 23
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- 7