Hey Ho Bookaholics!
I have another review! Initiate is the second ARC I have read, received and reviewed on this blog. I was asked to review this book by the wonderful team at OfTomes Publishing Company and I would never have been able to read this book if the amazing Laura. L. Fox hadn’t written it, so I must thank her also.
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DISCLAIMER: I was sent this book in ebook format from OfTomes in exchange for an honest review. This book is to be released on November 15th 2016 and is the first book in a series.
Goodreads Review
The only home Riga Garrison has ever known is the Tunnel, a subterranean research facility buried deep beneath Antarctica’s ice and snow.
Yet, while a safe haven for the last outpost of humanity governed by the Initiate, it is also home to a secret so dark that they will risk anything to protect it.
Surrounded by deceit and faced with exile to a frozen wasteland, Riga must defy not only the Initiate’s top biologists and loyalists but also her own mother, in an attempt to unearth the truth.
Buy The Book! ★★★★★ (5/5 stars)
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The Cover!
The thing that most attracted me to this book was the cover. I has seen it advertised many times on BenjaminOfTomes’s Instagram stories and on his YouTube channel and I remember thinking; ‘I need that book!’ ‘I need to read that.’ Despite its gradient colour palette of varying degrees of blue, and Riga looking out into the distance; you truly don’t appreciate the cover unless you have actually read the book and know what has Riga so intrigued.
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The Author!
Laura L. Fox first realized she could become the magical person behind her favorite books when she received a personal letter from one of her favorite childhood authors, Ann M. Martin. The writing bug took hold and hasn’t let go since. From early attempts at Animorphs fanfiction to Michael Crichton-inspired tales of adventure, Laura has found her true voice and passion in YA science fiction.
When she’s not writing, she can be found curled up on the couch knitting, reading, crocheting, or napping with one (or more) of her cats, who are her pride and joy.
Laura currently lives in the Midwest because she loves the colorful autumns and snowy winters, but dreams often of traveling to Iceland, New Zealand, Australia, England, and Scotland.
The Initiate is her debut novel and the first in a trilogy being published by OfTomes Publishing in November 2016.
Interview With Laura Coming 2017
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Spoiler-Free Review!
Where do I start….?
You see I didn’t take many notes for this book like I usually do with other books I plan to write a review for (thankfully because I smashed the phone I was reading it on last week so that wouldn’t have been good); instead, I devoured every word that Fox had branded onto the page.
To summarise Initiate in five words: exhilarating, gripping, original, powerful and suspenseful.
I have a deep fascination with corrupt governments and power hungry leaders, and Initiate only fed that hunger. This book has everything a true dystopian fan craves, including;
- lies
- power-hungry leaders
- a government who controls everyone unknowingly
- lots of secrets
- an absent mother
- a best friend
- a family secret and betrayal
- a rebellious protagonist
- a ruined planet earth
- potential aliens
- don’t forget the mysterious blueprints
- a relentless sidekick who forces themselves into every situation with the protagonist whether they like it or not
I have never read a book set in Antarctica before, and I do not believe that there are many out there. This specific setting enabled the story to take on a cold, dystopian vibe that left the book feeling like there was a new secret to uncover on every page.
The construction of the setting was absolutely superb! I was so blown away at how clearly I could picture Riga running down the halls of the tunnel and knowing exactly where there was a door or her mother parked her Vespa outside their small apartment. Sometimes I revisit the houses in my mind when I need a place to escape, depending on how I feel I many escape into Riga’s small and quiet 2 bedroom apartment or join Mynta’s family in their full house! But sometimes I sneak into Rhys’ apartment to take a look at the blueprints hidden there.
What a cheeky bugger! I loved Rhys. It’s a thing I do. Get bored of the main characters fame and fall for the dorky side character who shows great amounts of chivalry towards our annoyed protagonist.
The fact that Rhys was relentless in letting Riga go on the mission on her own and had already packed his stuff well in advance reminded me somewhat of Hermione from Harry Potter with Riga being the Harry of the story. Despite the clear lack of the Chosen One trope, Riga is selfless and wants no one to be hurt in her search for answers, but Rhys – oh wonderful Rhys (marry me) – will not let her go alone.
The one thing that did irk me about this story was the easy way in which, I felt, Fox had pushed Riga’s best friend Mynta out of the frame to make way for another, who is more willing to stay by her side. And I know that Riga goes to say goodbye to Mynta and tells Mynta to stay, I just hope we see how some of the impact Riga’s departure has had on Mynta and how she copes with that.
Overall, this story was a work of art and deserved every point on the five stars I gave it over on Goodreads, although if the scale went any higher, this book will always receive the full amount of stars.
It is an origional concept which has never been done before. All of the characters were their own person, with their own problems, beliefs and secrets.
I am dying to read the second book! I was so glad the ARC included chapter snippets of the second book or I would’ve fallen over with the intensity of that cliffhanger. I had to physically stop myself from reading the chapter snippets from the second book because I don’t want to spoil anything for myself.
If you have read Initiate by Laura. L. Fox, tell me what you thought down in the comments below!
For those of you who want to read Initiate by Laura. L. Fox, you can purchase it on Amazon in eBook or Paperback format. I hope to get my hands on a copy soon.
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This post was made possible by OfTomes Publishing who provided me with the eBook in exchange for an honest review. I would not have been able to have experienced this book without the wonderful Benjamin from BenjaminOfTomes and the author Laura. L. Fox who is a lovely person. Thank you xx
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Thank You so much for reading and I hope to see you all again Saturday 🙂
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© Jasper+Spice 2015. All Rights Reserved. Please do not use without permission. All graphics were sourced from Goodreads. Some photos were sourced from my Instagram @jasperandspice.
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