Sunday 1 January 2012

Incarnate by Jodi Meadows **Review**

Incarnate by Jodi Meadows
Series: Newsoul #1
Pages: 384
Publisher: HarperCollins
Release date: January 31st 2012
Buy: Book Depository | Amazon UK | Amazon US
Author interview with Jodi

Goodreads synopsis:
NEWSOUL
Ana is new. For thousands of years in Range, a million souls have been reincarnated over and over, keeping their memories and experiences from previous lifetimes. When Ana was born, another soul vanished, and no one knows why.

NOSOUL
Even Ana’s own mother thinks she’s a nosoul, an omen of worse things to come, and has kept her away from society. To escape her seclusion and learn whether she’ll be reincarnated
, Ana travels to the city of Heart, but its citizens are suspicious and afraid of what her presence means. When dragons and sylph attack the city, is Ana to blame?

HEART
Sam believes Ana’s new soul is good and worthwhile. When he stands up for her, their relationship blooms. But can he love someone who may live only once, and will Ana’s enemies—human and creature alike—let them be together? Ana needs to uncover the mistake that gave her someone else’s life, but will her quest threaten the peace of Heart and destroy the promise of reincarnation for all?

Jodi Meadows expertly weaves soul-deep romance, fantasy, and danger into an extraordinary tale of new life.


What a book to kick 2012 off with! When I requested a review copy of this book, I thought the premise of the novel sounded really interesting. The idea of souls being reborn into another body after death is actually something I've thought about in the past, but I'd never really thought about it for long enough to begin forming much of an idea around it.
I'm so glad Jodi did though - what a wonderfully imaginative and exciting story!
I was immediately able to sympathize with the protagonist, Ana, which was a very good start. Li is Ana's mother, but she's everything but what you'd expect anyone's mother to be like. Ana is what she calls a 'nosoul' - someone she detests for being born as a replacement for Ciana - the first soul to never be reborn. Ana's spirit and determination, despite her mother's despicable behaviour towards her, is incredible, and drew me to her character straight away. From the moment Ana left Li's home to go to Heart (the major city) to find out where she came from, I was hooked!
And then when Ana met Sam? Things got even better. I really enjoy a sprinkling of romance in a fantasy story, and this romance was no exception. Their relationship was difficult and awkward to begin with, but when the story really got going, their relationship blossomed. I was definitely hoping for a happy ending for the two of them!
It's evident that so much thought went into this novel. The plot and the characters were really well developed, and the ending of the novel left off in a wonderful place for the sequel, which I will eagerly wait for.
My only complaint? That my copy is on my Kindle and not a physical book - that cover is beautiful!


43 comments:

Vicky @ A Backpack Full of Adventures said...

I'm SO looking forward to reading this one! I know how much you loved it so I'm even more curious now. I'm sure it'll be ace and thanks for the great review =)

PS: I agree, too bad it's on my Kindle, the cover is fantastic! x

SarahS. said...

I can't wait to read this book. I have heard a lot of good things about it.
SarahS. @ WondrousReadings *YA

ArtemisG said...

Incarnate has amazing story and cover. I can't wait to read it. I am very curious of this book too.

Books for Company said...

The cover is beautiful!
Thanks for this review, definitely wanting to read this one now!

Farah said...

This is definitely my most look-forward-to book=D. It's just that amazing of a story and I found many good reviews on it. Great review!

LisaILJ said...

Thanks for the review. I wasn't sure if I was going to have the time to read this one, but you have made it sound so awesome, that I will somehow have to find the time.

Badass Bookie said...

Wow Ana sounds like a wonderful protagonist. I can't wait to read this one especially since Jodi is one of my debutantes! <3

Anonymous said...

This book seems so good! I'm looking forward to read it!
Nice review!

Christina Fiorelli said...

This looks GREAT!

Thanks for the review!

I'm Christina Kit. in the rafflecopter

nodizzies said...

Awesome review. I did read an ARC of INCARNATE. I like the idea for the book, of 1 million souls reborning until a new soul comes through. It's such a unique idea! It's sad that people hate Ana b/c she replaced one of those million souls. It's not her fault, but they have no one else to blame. It's cool to see her developing a relationship with Sam.

I wasn't as invested in the story though but maybe it's b/c I didn't expect to see different creatures in this book, making the book more fantasy.

Chen Chang

SacredmOOn said...

Awesome review!!! I can't wait to read it myself! I've only seen rave reviews of this fantastic book. DeAnna Schultz

layen said...

Oh it's great that you're able to sympathize with the protagonist. Sometimes it's hard to like a story if you can't connect to the main characters right?

Thanks for the great review. I'm adding this book to my wish list now :D

The Night Bookmobile said...

I can't wait to read this. I like that Ana's mother is emotionally abusive. I think it's realistic when books explore that sort of relationship.

Lolawid said...

I've heard a little bit about this book, but your review makes me want to run out and get it! Thanks for adding to my wishlist!! ;o)

LisaILJ said...

I have this one on hold at the library, I am just waiting for it to come in. It looks awesome, and your review has me all excited to read it.

Kali Skittles said...

I can't wait to read this! Every review of it just puts me that much closer to caving and buying it.

Tanja - Tanychy said...

Great review! I hear a lot about this book and I can't wait to read it!

Anonymous said...

I so want to read this.. Sadly, the place that i shop they only have a hardback edit :/.. And since i just need it as a book, not an ebook i have to wait till they get a paperback version that are cheaper :)

Dark_Calling said...

nice review...i really wanna read this book but theres so much to read lol :P

Imel Cullen said...

I really want to read Incarnate, this book make me curious but and I like your review, thank's for sharing^^

Anonymous said...

I've read a lot of reviews of this book... seems so great and yours was no different ;)

Good to know that the characters and the plot are well developed ... and hell yeah, the cover is wonderful!!!

xoxo

Ana

Unknown said...

This was such a beautiful book and one of the most interesting reads so far this, year. I loved the creative take on reincarnation and how determined Meadows made Ana. And the love between Ana and Sam, was so realistic and pretty.

Loved your review, thank you for sharing. :)

Suz @ A Soul Unsung
susanhaugland@att.net

Jaime Lester said...

I just got this one from my local library and I am so excited to read it. Most of the reviews that I have read praise this book, yours included. Thanks so much for this review. It just cements the fact that I made the right choice!

Jaime Lynn GFC

Danie said...

I've been seeing this ALL over the blogosphere and now I'm desperately wanting to read it. I have yet to see a negative review, and the cover is gorgeous.

Tina Anthony said...

Great review! I so want to read this and ive been wanting to since the release:| ughhhh. I still love the cover though:)

Helen said...

I have been wanting to read this. I love the cover and the story line just pulls me in. I need to know if they figure out about Ana's soul and what will happen with her relationship.

Unknown said...

I recently won this book and now can't wait to receive it! Thanks for the wonderful review!

Cayce said...

I agree, the cover is beautiful. Thank you for the awesome review. I'm glad you loved it. :) I'm really looking forward to reading it. Hope I'll love it, too.

Deb said...

I loved the cover of this one, too! But, my review told a different story than yours in that I found it somewhat losing it in the middle and end. I loved the beginning and I loved the premise of the novel. Just hope the author can pick it up and write a better sequel. She'll need to tighten it up and keep it on target for me! :] Love your blog! I'm a follower and networker, too. I hope you'll come follow me someday...
Deborah/TheBookishDame

Pabkins said...

That is definitely my major complaint about the e-ink kindles also is that you can't appreciate the covers like a physical copy. I really enjoyed this book as well foaming at the mouth for the next.

Krista said...

I've heard a lot of hype about this book and it sounds amazing! I really want to read it.

Kali Skittles said...

I have this on my Kindle too and I wish I would have gotten a physical copy! I love the cover, I need more beautiful covers on my bookcases!

Diana_Dimovska said...

I haven't read this book (I know, it's a shame)... I will search for an e-version, because if I wait for it to be published in my country, centuries and centuries will pass away... It really sounds intriguing, a must read. And the cover, oh the cover... amazing... :)

Thanks for the review, Diana

Charmaine Kimberly said...

I actually really enjoyed this movie. It's sorta simple when you think it about it. It also has the problem that Divergent had about its female protagonist, and I like it for being a dystopian novel. :)

Veronika said...

I haven't read this book yet, still waiting for my copy to arrive :) But I've heard about this book a lot!! I'm sure I will love it! I fell in love with the cover already!

IdentitySeeker said...

I recently received a physical copy of the book and could not stop picking it up and thumbing through it every few seconds because of that beautiful cover. What an amazing cover! I was disheartened, however, when I read a very negative review on another blog I follow but I'm glad to have read yours now:)

Sarah Bibi Setar

Unknown said...

great review,,,btw i love this cover,,,putting it in my TBR, cos you make me wait to reading this book...

thanks ^^

girl on fire said...

Thanks for sharing your thoughts! great review! :)
I've been really curious about this and heard many good reviews about it & the fact that it has an amazing cover makes me want to read it. :)

Gabrielle said...

I was really surprised by how much I loved this book. Great review! I also regret only having a Kindle copy. Such a stunning cover.

Unknown said...

Great review.
I really want to read this book and I want to read it even more after reading this review.

MUST.BUY.COPY

Lauren @ Lauren Reads YA said...

This is on my Must Read Very Soon Or Else I'll Die From Excitement-list. And you made me put it even higher in the list! Thanks for the great review! :)

Tasnia Mahmud said...

I think the cover is sooo beautiful!!:D

beccabooklover said...

I'll be posting a review for this sometime in the next week. I really enjoyed this and it really surprised me. It was full of such beautiful descriptions and I loved the incarnation idea in the story. Asunder arrived a few days back and I can't wait to read it! Great review :)

Becca :)

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