Monday, March 11, 2013

Review: Emblaze

The Violet Eden Chapters #3
Jessica Shirvington
Paranormal Young Adult
464 pages
Sourcebooks Fire
Available Now
Received from publisher for review

THE STORY (from Goodreads)
Once again Violet Eden faces an impossible choice ... and the consequences are unimaginable.

Violet has come to terms with the fact that being part angel, part human, means her life will never be as it was.

Now Violet has something Phoenix - the exiled angel who betrayed her - will do anything for, and she has no intention of letting it fall into his hands. The only problem is that he has something she needs too.

Not afraid to raise the stakes, Phoenix seemingly holds all the power, always one step ahead. And when he puts the final pieces of the prophecy together, it doesn't take him long to realise exactly who he needs in order to open the gates of Hell.

With the help of surprising new allies, ancient prophecies are deciphered, a destination set and, after a shattering confrontation with her father, Violet leaves for the islands of Greece without knowing if she will have a home to return to...


MY THOUGHTS
Emblaze wastes little time in making us brutally aware of how emotionally intense it's going to be, bringing us up to speed on the notable events of Entice quickly and riddling the emotional dam built in the time since the last book with holes, allowing the painful waters of Violet and Lincoln's relationship to pour through and envelop us once more. Where Lincoln and Violet were hopeful of their future together in book two despite the lingering issues caused by Phoenix's role in their lives, this book deals in the aftermath of having that hope violently ripped from them, hearts and souls now raw and fully exposed with the roughness of their pain like sandpaper to our skin, rubbing constantly until we find ourselves hurting as much as they are.

The highlight amidst the darkness of this tale is Violet herself, a young woman we struggled to connect with upon our initial meeting–thanks in large part to Phoenix's manipulations–who has grown into a heroine of extraordinary strength emotionally and physically. She exists in a state of suspended torture in this book, pieces of her soul tied with rope and handed off to a handful of people who each pull their end in an opposite direction. She's stretched to the limit many times over in this story, but she never breaks or cries out, the only evidence of her pain being the tears that track their way down our cheeks as she holds herself together for the sake of those around her, and we can't help but be impressed by the transformation she's undergone from the girl we first met.

The romance between Violet and Lincoln is at its most dramatic in this third installment, and while our hearts ache with their pain, we find ourselves thankful their hurt stems not from playing games with one another now that they know they cannot be together, but rather from the bone-deep chill that results from forcefully denying love. While Phoenix and Lincoln are both uniquely entangled in Violet's life, there's no triangle in sight, Violet's feelings for Lincoln radiating from her body and soul so there's simply no question as to where her heart lies. Phoenix is not so easily disregarded however, his dark complexity and his search to find a place he truly belongs making it incredibly difficult to hate him the way we'd like to, and he remains at the forefront of our thoughts even though he's no threat to Lincoln and Violet's relationship.

Overall, this is a series that continues to get better with each an every installment, delving deeper into the thoughts and feelings of all the characters as the battle between Grigori and Exile reaches its turning point in the final pages. Ms. Shirvington expertly balances emotional drama with physical action, ensuring we devour hundreds of pages despite our intent to read only a chapter or two before bed, but she makes the weight of sleep lost the next day a burden we're more than happy to bear. As mentioned previously, we conclude our time with Violet in this book at a turning point in her fight, riveted to every word spoken and praying our eyes are deceiving us when they reach the last sentence, loving how addictive these books have become and already craving the next fix.

Rating: 4.5/5

29 comments:

  1. Wow, now I'm impressed! Honestly, I haven't come to expect much out of this series considering the mostly lacklustre reviews I read, but after reading your review, I can see that it's actually pretty exciting and dramatic! I'm not positive it would be the series for me, but I think I can appreciate that at least it would be an addicting read!

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    1. I had a bit of trouble with book 1 because Violet wasn't the girl she is now (that will make sense if and when you read), but books 2 and 3 have each gotten better and now I'm dying for book 4!

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  2. Woha! I haven't heard such a great things about the first books but after reading your review it's worth suffering just to get to this book! :) I love good books about angels and this one might be my next to read. Great review Jenny :)

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    1. I really, really enjoy this series Tanja, and typically angels don't work all that well for me. This series and the Unearthly series are exceptions though:)

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  3. Wow, Jenny! I have not read this series, because I have met mixed reviews on the first one. I like these covers though, I think they're absolutely beautiful. I wasn't aware it was so emotional. Don't you just hate when you don't get any emotions out of a book? I think a so-so plot with emotional baggage is so much better than an original, awesome plot with characters and a story you just don't connect with. I love that you and Jenni both loved this book and I will definitely put it on my need-to-check-out-asap list;) I just finished the Hush Hush Saga and even though I started Unearthly series, I'm eager to read some other angel books, too. Thanks, girl!!

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    1. Oh I was definitely on the mixed review side of the first book Siiri! I think I gave it a 3.5. There are some things with Violet I had trouble with in Embrace, but those things were no longer issues in Entice and this one:)

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  4. Besides absolutely drooling on the covers, I really enjoyed the second in this series (I haven't read the first) and Violet really grew and developed over the course of that book. I *knew* this one would be crazy-emotional -- we were set up for it with the second book -- and I'm glad to know it really delivers. This series is definitely addictive!

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    1. IT HURTS MARY!!! I liked that their relationship didn't dissolve into the "if we can't be together then I'm going to try and make myself feel better by hurting you. See how happy I look with someone else?" situation. I was really hoping she wouldn't suddenly turn to Phoenix for solace, and I was really pleased with how everything was handled:)

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  5. Darn, I still can't believe I haven't started this series. But from your reviews, I would have definitely fallen for Phoenix. I love tortured heroes/villains. haha.

    Great review as always, Jenny! :D

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    1. Typically Gellie, Phoenix would so be my guy as well. Give me the dark and brooding one any day. But Lincoln. LINCOLN GELLIE. I love him. He's kind of hard to resist and has his own tortured thing going on:)

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  6. I adore when series keep going deeper and deeper. Pulling you in while hooking their little claws into you. Those are the best kinds! I call it book series crack and darn those authors that are extra good at it!

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  7. Wow, I remember your mixed review about book 1 but the fact that your ratings increase with each book is a testament to how this series improves. I'm not a big fan of angel books, except for the Unearthly series, but I'm seriously considering giving this series a shot.

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  8. OK, OK, I GET it. I need to read these books. I even have the first 2.

    Can I please just get a month off where I do nothing but read? Preferably on a secluded beach? Because that's the only way I'm going to get caught up in this lifetime.

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  9. This is one of the series that got buzz while I was done and therefore I've never heard of them. Any book that you give a 4.5 to deserves some investigation :)

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  10. I am loving this series, too. I just finished Emblaze last week and was totally blown away by the ending. WOW! I can't wait for the next book. I would like to see more of Lincoln and Violet...they just need to get together already! :) Great review, Jenny!

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  11. Sigh. I didn't realize book 3 was out. I still nead to read the first book I keep meaning to. I've heard it's great.

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  12. I am still trying to find time to read this series. Sourcebooks keeps asking me to join the tours and I haven't read book one yet. I know you are a fan of this series Jenny and I like seeing that 4.5 star rating up there. The romance sounds a bit like the one in Estep's Mythos Academy, would they just get together already!

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  13. Now this one sounds good, do they just get better? :=D

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  14. Keeps getting better???? I haven't read the second one yet!! *sobs* So need to get on it. I'm so curious about Violet and Lincoln's romance. I also think I must reread that first one because I think I liked Phoenix in the first one, but I can't remember. Yep, need a reread and the next two! What you do to me!

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  15. "She's stretched to the limit many times over in this story, but she never breaks or cries out, the only evidence of her pain being the tears that track their way down our cheeks..."

    Wow, there is no way I can resist meeting a heroine like Violet. The romance sounds both heartbreaking and very convincing... after all, you described some very strong emotions and that means it must be well written.
    I'm curious about this Phoenix character, too to be honest.
    I don't know why I haven't started this series already but I definitely will.
    Beautifully written review as always, Jenny. :)

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  16. I'm glad this series just keeps getting better and better! I haven't started it yet, but every time another book is released I tend to see reviews everywhere that convince me I should pick up the first one.

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  17. I haven't picked up this series yet either but it seems like the books come out pretty quickly. I was thinking there must be something to this Grigori name and fallen angels because it's in so many of the books about fallen angels. Maybe I'll have to look it up. But man do you write an emotionally gut wrenching review. I don't even know Violet and Lincoln and I feel their pain, like sandpaper rubbing back and forth on my skin. Very visual, Jenny. That's why I like your reviews! I can picture what you're saying! I knew I'd figure it out. I want to cry for Violet. I can't imagine how I'll feel when I read the actual book.

    Heather

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  18. Ok, I thought I left a comment on my phone, but it looks like it didn't go through :-( Apologies if I'm mistaken and this is a duplicate :-)

    "we devour hundreds of pages despite our intent to read only a chapter or two before bed, but she makes the weight of sleep lost the next day a burden we're more than happy to bear." <--YES, this is SO what happens to me with this series! I just finished book two and it was a whirlwind for me.

    I'm so glad to hear book three is even better! I can't wait to get to this one this weekend. My heart is breaking for Violet and Lincoln. I just want them to find happiness. But I love how far Violet has come from the beginning, when she was manipulated by Phoenix. So impressed with her! Fabulous review, Jenny!

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  19. I have not read this series, and now I want to know all about Violet and Lincoln. I love a little paranormal romance and the cover is wonderful. good to know book three is strong too..off to find book one (because i don't have nearly enough books in my tbr pile..LOL)

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  20. Jenny, you make me sooo jealous that you read this book! I WANT! I WANT!

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  21. I'm so glad the romance is essentially love-triangle free in this book. It's such a relief just knowing that these days. ;) I still haven't started this series yet (I guess that makes me a hypocrite after my CP comment!) but your review and rating definitely makes me want to. :) Great job, Jenny!

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  22. I read the first of this series a long time ago and I haven't continued it. I didn't love the first but it's one of the only angel books I didn't dislike either so I def. want to keep going. I like that the 3rd is still just as good with fab romance and an intense plot. I'm also guilty of often going to bed way to late and blame it on a book! Tehee! Such is life! :D

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  23. Even though I have issues with this series, I have to agree that the books really do a good job of sucking you in. I ended up finishing this one faster than I expected to.

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  24. Awesome review. This is another series I have been wanting to start. I even have the first book. You review has me motivated!

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