Crux by Julie Reece
Published: 9th July 2012
By: J. Taylor Publishing
ISBN13: 9781937744076
Source: Publisher
Target Audience: YA
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I received a copy of this book for review as part of a blog tour. I didn't really know what to expect from it, I think I thought it was more a thriller kind of thing. I didn't read the blurb again before I started to read it and I was just blown away. The book kicks off almost immediately and doesn't slow down until the very end. It is so much more than the blurb would lead you to believe.
Birdie's parents died when she was young and she has went from foster home to foster home until, at the age of 18, she ended up living on the streets, which she has done for the last four months. When she sees a man, claiming to be giving away money, she follows. Little did she know, that these events would change her life forever. She gets chased by thugs, meets the hot Grey Mathews and through Jeff (the money giver), learns of her heritage. Now she must decide whether to risk her life accepting what has been handed down to her.
Birdie is a fantastic character who I just couldn't help but love. I really enjoyed seeing things from her POV as she dealt with what her heritage had thrown at her, discovered that Mr. Rich was interested and wanted to protect her and learned to fight and protect herself in a battle which could result in her and/or Grey's demise.
The secondary characters in this book were also great, written really well with definition and personality. Grey is really swoon worthy and one for the book boyfriend list, while Jeff is regal and mysterious. They all work together and make this a fun, romantic, mysterious and suspenseful read. This did read like a thriller at times with paranormal elements of time travel and a fantasy world.
Julie is an amazing author who took me easily onto the battlefield with the vividness of her descriptions of battle, death, and gruesomeness including, aromas of death. Her world building here was just fantastic and I could see it all clearly. It's a long time since I read a book with such good battle scenes. Normally I zone out a bit at this kind of thing and just skim over it, but Julie kept me totally riveted.
I really feel that I'm not doing this book justice with this review. I've been thinking about it for the last few days and I'm just stumped. It's so hard to write a review when I loved a book so much. I can't think of anything negative that I could say about it at all, I just loved it!
This is a stand alone book unfortunately, so we won't get to see more of the awesome Grey and Birdie, that's a negative I guess. So I found one!
I can do no more, only urge you all to pick this one up, you won't be disappointed.
Guest Post with Julie Reece
Hi everybody! Thanks so much for having me here today :)
I wanted to discuss the fact that I’m a closet comic book reader. Okay, that’s not true. I’ve been out of the closet a while on this one. I love them, pure and simple, and have since sixth grade.
Most superheroes are beautiful—and built. We have comic book artists to thank for that, as well as blame. Storm from X-Men did more to ruin my self-esteem than Barbie ever could, but never mind that now. Often the villains are just as awesome, if not more so. Their stunning looks, however, are only part of the appeal. What about all the glorious power of these super human people? *Eyes glaze over and start to spin* Me likeeee. I’m not drooling am I?
If you could choose any super power or paranormal identity, what would you choose? Mind reading, super strength, or maybe you’d like to be a vampire (sparkly or non-sparkly variety) or a werewolf or dragon. Would you want to fly, have unlimited healing abilities or perhaps you’d like to time travel, be a shape shifter or talk to animals. Mucho awesomeness!
My family and I got into this discussion last weekend. Everyone chose with the understanding you could only have one talent. I said I would pick controlling the elements. Then I got blasted that my choice was four powers and not one. (I still contest this idea) It’s one with benefits, get over yourself. My eldest daughter took time travel, her friend mind control, my husband flight and my youngest super speed. Once we had that settled, we talked about whether or not we could control our power. Would we want to use it for good or lose it in the end to the dark side? We decided it was important to explore the question, just in case, because this could so totally happen, right?
If my ninth grade science teacher gave me an F on my test, would I be able to stop myself from sending a sharp wind to knock his toupee from his head to the floor? What about the mean girl at school who spread nasty rumors about you and then stole your boyfriend? You just gonna let that one go? Uh, huh. If the police pull you over for speeding, or your cranky neighbor chases your dog, or you lost the championship game, could you control the urge to seek revenge?
I’d like to think we’re above that, that we would be good citizens and do the right thing, no matter what. But in the end, honesty prevailed, and the group at our little table had to admit we weren’t sure. We collectively shuddered and laughed some nervous laughter and decided to leave the supernatural crime fighting to the pen and page.
Still, to be able to control lightening … sigh. You could really kick some bad guy booty with that! The idea of all that power, good and evil, the freedom to choose what sort of person you want to be are the elements that inspired me to write my first novel, Crux.
Okay, so what about you? What power would you choose, and would you be a good guy or bad?
About the Author
Born in Ohio, I lived next to my grandfather’s horse farm until the fourth grade. Summers were about riding, fishing and make-believe, while winter brought sledding and ice-skating on frozen ponds. Most of life was magical, but not all.
I struggled with multiple learning disabilities, did not excel in school. I spent much of my time looking out windows and daydreaming. In the fourth grade (with the help of one very nice teacher) I fought dyslexia for my right to read, like a prince fights a dragon in order to free the princess locked in a tower, and I won.
Afterwards, I read like a fiend. I invented stories where I could be the princess... or a gifted heroine from another world who kicked bad guy butt to win the heart of a charismatic hero. Who wouldn't want to be a part of that? Later, I moved to Florida where I continued to fantasize about superpowers and monsters, fabricating stories (my mother called it lying) and sharing them with my friends.
Then I thought I’d write one down…
Hooked, I’ve been writing ever since. I write historical, contemporary, urban fantasy, adventure, and young adult romances. I love strong heroines, sweeping tales of mystery and epic adventure… which must include a really hot guy. My writing is proof you can work hard to overcome any obstacle. Don’t give up. I say, if you write, write on!
And now....the giveaway!!
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