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cheesehead_reader's review
4.0
3.5 Stars... This is my first YA book with fallen angels as the theme. I wasn't sure what to expect with them as main characters and was more than happy to give them a try. Torn started exciting right away but then for just a bit was confusing which bogged me down just a tad. There are some flashback scenes in the first few chapters that I had to reread to determine when it exactly it was taking place. But by the middle of the book the story had picked up and really started to move coming to a great climax at the end.
What I liked about it was Samantha's "walking the line" between darkness and light and the decision she has to make. I liked that this wasn't quite as predictable as some may have written. Samantha is complex and not your typical heroine.
I will definitely read the next book in this series.
What I liked about it was Samantha's "walking the line" between darkness and light and the decision she has to make. I liked that this wasn't quite as predictable as some may have written. Samantha is complex and not your typical heroine.
I will definitely read the next book in this series.
readingbelle's review
5.0
Argh!! Prepare yourself for a cliffhanger my friends......
So let me start with the iffy part first. The beginning of 'Torn' did have me a bit confused as it went back and forth between present, past, dreams and reality. I got to a point where I wasn't sure if a pivotal scene with Samantha aka Sam (our poor tortured main character) actually did happen or if she just dreamed it. Later in the book these first few chapters are explained and I was fine with it at that point.
So that's the iffy and here is the oh sweet angel in heaven goodness. The whole thing. Period. Loved this book. I enjoyed this story as much as I enjoy a chocolate bar at midnight. Um, in case you don't know me that is a whole heck of a lot!
The synopsis is self explanatory so I won't repeat that. What I will tell you is Christine Hughes does an amazing job of exploring the gut wrenching confusion and feelings of Sam who is torn between good and evil. Part of you wants to slap Sam and tell her to 'man up' or whatever the female equation of that is but if you put yourself in her shoes you realize she is spiritually being ripped in two by forces that she has no control over. Her best friend Lucas and his older brother Ethan act as her guardians trying to protect her and train her for a future that she has technically not decided on yet. As they race to protect Sam from the evil fallen angel Sebastian, basically he was the brains behind the the whole apple in the garden of Eden plot that destroyed man's ability to live peaceful lives (yea, thanks for that Sebastian), we come to realize we can't always trust in whom we thought we could and the answers may not be the ones we want.
This is a wonderful first book to a series that I will most certainly be following. There are some nice twists and turns along the way and as I stated in the beginning of my review there is a cliffhanger that will leave you hopeful for the future and yelling at Christine to write faster!! Oh and there is a nifty little forbidden love story too.
I received this book as a freebie through the 'Lovers of Paranormal' book club Read2Review program in exchange for an honest review.
So let me start with the iffy part first. The beginning of 'Torn' did have me a bit confused as it went back and forth between present, past, dreams and reality. I got to a point where I wasn't sure if a pivotal scene with Samantha aka Sam (our poor tortured main character) actually did happen or if she just dreamed it. Later in the book these first few chapters are explained and I was fine with it at that point.
So that's the iffy and here is the oh sweet angel in heaven goodness. The whole thing. Period. Loved this book. I enjoyed this story as much as I enjoy a chocolate bar at midnight. Um, in case you don't know me that is a whole heck of a lot!
The synopsis is self explanatory so I won't repeat that. What I will tell you is Christine Hughes does an amazing job of exploring the gut wrenching confusion and feelings of Sam who is torn between good and evil. Part of you wants to slap Sam and tell her to 'man up' or whatever the female equation of that is but if you put yourself in her shoes you realize she is spiritually being ripped in two by forces that she has no control over. Her best friend Lucas and his older brother Ethan act as her guardians trying to protect her and train her for a future that she has technically not decided on yet. As they race to protect Sam from the evil fallen angel Sebastian, basically he was the brains behind the the whole apple in the garden of Eden plot that destroyed man's ability to live peaceful lives (yea, thanks for that Sebastian), we come to realize we can't always trust in whom we thought we could and the answers may not be the ones we want.
This is a wonderful first book to a series that I will most certainly be following. There are some nice twists and turns along the way and as I stated in the beginning of my review there is a cliffhanger that will leave you hopeful for the future and yelling at Christine to write faster!! Oh and there is a nifty little forbidden love story too.
I received this book as a freebie through the 'Lovers of Paranormal' book club Read2Review program in exchange for an honest review.
fmmiller88's review
5.0
I received this book in exchange for an honest review. (LOP)
First, let me say that this is a great book. Even though it was short, in relative to what I've been reading, it packed a punch. It was just the right amount of everything a good book needs. It had suspense, drama, action, and romance. I was very glad that the whole book didn't consist of her being a baby about her situation. I enjoyed that it had just enough fight scenes to keep you interested but not too much that it felt like it dominated the story. Although there was a good amount of romance, between Sam and Ethan of course I wish there were more. Usually I am good at predicting what is going to happen in books and surprisingly I was wrong. I try to predict what will happen about forty pages in just to get myself excited for the end and this time I just knew she would be claimed in darkness and Ethan would follow her, but nope, which in this case I was happy I was wrong. I was glad that things were explained in a way that didn't bog the reader down with information and I was extra glad that I was able to follow the jumping around in the story. I wish more writers would use headings to signify the passage of time. I was upset about the deaths of Scott and Jesse, they packed an emotional punch but I did understand that their deaths served a purpose in the book. I definitely did not see those coming as well. I don't know if I can wait until another book comes out. I read this one too fast I guess and now I have to twiddle my thumbs until then.
First, let me say that this is a great book. Even though it was short, in relative to what I've been reading, it packed a punch. It was just the right amount of everything a good book needs. It had suspense, drama, action, and romance. I was very glad that the whole book didn't consist of her being a baby about her situation. I enjoyed that it had just enough fight scenes to keep you interested but not too much that it felt like it dominated the story. Although there was a good amount of romance, between Sam and Ethan of course I wish there were more. Usually I am good at predicting what is going to happen in books and surprisingly I was wrong. I try to predict what will happen about forty pages in just to get myself excited for the end and this time I just knew she would be claimed in darkness and Ethan would follow her, but nope, which in this case I was happy I was wrong. I was glad that things were explained in a way that didn't bog the reader down with information and I was extra glad that I was able to follow the jumping around in the story. I wish more writers would use headings to signify the passage of time. I was upset about the deaths of Scott and Jesse, they packed an emotional punch but I did understand that their deaths served a purpose in the book. I definitely did not see those coming as well. I don't know if I can wait until another book comes out. I read this one too fast I guess and now I have to twiddle my thumbs until then.
catcaluian's review
4.0
Really enjoyed Torn , the plot and characters are well written , looking forward to future books by Christine Hughes
bookish_satty's review
5.0
I got this book from the author, free of cost, in exchange of an honest review from my side which I'm thrilled to give!
Firstly I would like to thank Christine Hughes, author of Torn for giving me this wonderful opportunity to read and review this fabulous book.
I really fell in love with this book and it's characters, the story is just awesome. The main character Samantha is brave, confident and truly kind. You will just love her as I do. The emotional aspect of the story will definitely reach you and you'll feel all the emotional turmoil that Samantha goes through.
The presence of darkness matched the presence of light and the author proved that one cannot exist without the other. The concept of fallen angels was a fresh start in the paranormal genre and you won't get bored for even a nanosecond for sure. A true epic read.
The story is thrilling and fast paced, It will grip your attention from the very first, the suspense that the author managed to keep all through the story was really spooky and is ought to give you chills down your spine.
All in all a fabulous read which you wouldn't want to miss at any cost.
Firstly I would like to thank Christine Hughes, author of Torn for giving me this wonderful opportunity to read and review this fabulous book.
I really fell in love with this book and it's characters, the story is just awesome. The main character Samantha is brave, confident and truly kind. You will just love her as I do. The emotional aspect of the story will definitely reach you and you'll feel all the emotional turmoil that Samantha goes through.
The presence of darkness matched the presence of light and the author proved that one cannot exist without the other. The concept of fallen angels was a fresh start in the paranormal genre and you won't get bored for even a nanosecond for sure. A true epic read.
The story is thrilling and fast paced, It will grip your attention from the very first, the suspense that the author managed to keep all through the story was really spooky and is ought to give you chills down your spine.
All in all a fabulous read which you wouldn't want to miss at any cost.
erenn87's review
4.0
I found that angel books have a high exception of what they are supposed to be like. Most are all "angles are good" and so on. Torn wasn't your average angel book. I really liked Sam and her personal struggle with what she felt and how she acted. She knew what she wanted, even if that wasn't what it seemed like to the others. I enjoyed her personality and she was...relate able. The background and explanation of the angles was wonderfully written. I liked the suspense and you didn't really know how it was going to end, which a lot of books DO have predictable ending. The romance is this novel, was just enough. It teased you, and left you wanting more when the book was done. Torn will suck you in and you'll want to keep reading to the end. And then want more. Christine did a wonderful job with this novel.
amysofta's review
4.0
Torn by Christine Hughes
After reading the synopsis for this book I knew I would enjoy it and I was right. It is a great story and I can't wait to read the next book in the series. Torn is a YA book, but it doesn't necessarily feel like YA to me, so don't let that hold you back from reading it. I really liked Samantha and she is true to the title of the book, torn between light and dark, wanting to be on the side of light but struggling to live with/control the dark. To me it was great example of the struggle of light and dark inside us all. I enjoyed the conflict and how those around her weren’t all enamored with her from the very beginning. I enjoyed the romance in the book as well and can't wait to see how that develops in future books. The book kept me guessing, and I had to get used to the jumping back and forth in the timeline but I figured it out. Again really good book and look forward to reading more!
After reading the synopsis for this book I knew I would enjoy it and I was right. It is a great story and I can't wait to read the next book in the series. Torn is a YA book, but it doesn't necessarily feel like YA to me, so don't let that hold you back from reading it. I really liked Samantha and she is true to the title of the book, torn between light and dark, wanting to be on the side of light but struggling to live with/control the dark. To me it was great example of the struggle of light and dark inside us all. I enjoyed the conflict and how those around her weren’t all enamored with her from the very beginning. I enjoyed the romance in the book as well and can't wait to see how that develops in future books. The book kept me guessing, and I had to get used to the jumping back and forth in the timeline but I figured it out. Again really good book and look forward to reading more!