Author: Gennifer Albin
Publication Date: October 29, 2013
Target Age Group: YA
My Rating: 4 1/2 out of 5
Book Jacket Blurb:
Life. Possibility. Choice. All taken from Adelice by the Guild—until she took them back.
But amid the splendid ruins of Earth, Adelice discovers how dangerous freedom can be. Hunted by soulless Remnants sent by Cormac Patton and the Guild, Adelice finds a world that’s far from deserted. Although allies are easy to find on Earth, knowing who to trust isn’t. Because everyone has secrets, especially those Adelice loves most. Secrets they would kill to protect. Secrets that will redefine each of them. Torn between two brothers and two worlds, Adelice must choose what to fight for.
Altered is Gennifer Albin's thrilling sequel to Crewel. Adelice is about to learn how tangled up her past and future really are. Her parents ran to protect her, but nothing can save her from her destiny, and once she uncovers the truth, it will change everything.
My Review:
I was lucky enough to receive this book at Book Expo America 2013, and I am just now getting around to reviewing it. I finished it some time ago. Thanks to Gennifer Albin and BEA for their generosity!
Altered is the second book in Gennifer Albin's Crewel World series. I've been very impressed with "seconds" in book series lately, and Altered is definitely no exception. It has action, continued character development for Adelice, suspense, and tension, and those are good enough reasons to read the book.
But the biggest thing I was impressed with is that the book has ANSWERS. While many books, movies, and TV shows (Lost comes to mind) like to pile more questions on top of the questions already posed, Altered does a great job in revealing the mysteries presented in books 1 and the new ones in this book.
For instance, you learn:
1. The true nature of Adelice's abilities, as well as the abilities of those in charge of Arras
2. What the condition of Earth is and who is living there
3. What the relationship is between Arras and Earth
4. Some interesting facts about Adelice's family and past
5. Who created Arras, why it was created, how it was created, and when.
And I promise you, you'll be blown away by ALL of these answers. This book is very well thought out and presents a very exciting mythology for this world Gennifer has created.
Above all, you're in good hands with Gennifer's capable writing skills. The pace is quick when it needs to be, slow in other places where it needs to be, and everything written seems to have a purpose. In fact, it seems to be knit as tightly as Arras is. When the story does slow down in a few places in the middle (which is one of the only things I could possibly find to pick on), it's mainly because things are being revealed to Adelice (and the reader), but believe me, you WANT to hear these reveals.
Finally, for those fans of romance, you finally find out who Adelice chooses - Jost or Erik? I grow weary of the love triangles in some YA fiction I've read, but I like the fact that Adelice, Jost, and Erik have to make a lot of complicated choices, and they're not just three love-crazed teens. Their relationships are just as complex as the world in which they live. Ultimately, Adelice went with the best choice for her and didn't waffle or flip-flop. That, and the one Adelice winds up with seems to connect with her in a meaningful way.
Overall, I highly recommend this book and, especially after another cliffhanger ending, can't wait to read the third book!
