YOU MIGHT NOT REMEMBER THIS but a long time ago when I was very young I posted a review of one amazing book also known as The Blood Race.
^^ actually just kidding, I wasn't "very young" ,it just seemed to go with "you might not remember" and "a long time ago". HA!
As for today, I'm so honored to take part in the blog tour of that book's sequel, Worlds Beneath. Before we get to it, I do recommend you check out my old review (link up there) because you'll understand this a bit better if you do ;D
W O R L D S B E N E A T H
by K. A. Emmons
I used to think that seeing was believing, but now, as I struggle to stay alive below the ravine, I begin to realize that - good or bad - I will see whatever I believe.
“Who are you, Icarus, that the earth opens its mouth to receive your blood?” Sensei’s words were my last thoughts before I fell into the bottomless ravine, plunging toward my own death, and bringing about Hawk’s at the same time. Or so I thought.
I woke up underwater. I awoke in a strange and unfamiliar world, filled with maze-like forest, shadows, and nightmares seemingly as vivid and dangerous as reality. I had no idea who I was, or how I got there - I couldn’t remember anything, until I remembered her: Hawk. The other half of my soul.
I knew that in order for her to stay alive, I had to survive and find a way out. But that’s easier said than done when you’re trapped in a realm as deadly as your every thought - and dominated by a hierarchy of ravenous wolf packs.
Alerted by a dream, I realize that Hawk has left the Dimension to come find me. For an instant, I rediscover hope. But that hope quickly burns to ash when I realize that we may not be the only ones down here. Someone else with a thirst for her blood may have survived the fall too. And I may have just lured her right into the jaws of a predator even fiercer than the wolves.
(First of all, please go and read my review of the Blood Race and you’ll probably understand this review much better :D)
Second, *disclaimer* I am on the launch team and received a free ARC of this book, but of course, the review is ALL MY OWN WORDS (as if it could be otherwise ha).
Let’s discuss the characters first, shall we?
Well. WE HAVE A NEW POV IN THIS BOOK. It’s Fin’s!!! I adore Fin so much <333 I actually relate to him so much more than Hawk or Icarus … with his deep deep concern and how he puts all this responsibility on himself and how he want to fix things and how he worries … he’s just so precious #finneedshugs Obviously he isn’t 100% perfect, but we could all learn from his selflessness, couldn’t we?
Usually I HATE it when the author adds in new perspective in the sequel, BUT!! This is one exception. I actually read all the povs without skipping ANY chapters to YAY #gome. And I loved them all :D There’s even this mystery perspective and mystery narrator who gets revealed later on (obviously I know who it was all along but whatever XD).
I also loved Hawk a lot better in this book! She was less annoying and much more vulnerable and human and understanding and understandable ^-^
Icarus has matured quite a bit and I missed not having his pov as much as in book one but I still love him so much <3 He’s still the main character for me and I can wait to see where this series takes him. He’s my darling child, yes.
Sensei was less seen in here, but not any less present, if you know what I mean. I love how these characters are not always at peace with him and how they don’t understand him and how they go through these different seasons individually and collectively. The relationship between mentor and students was gold <3
We see more of Mala – who’s even more vulnerable and slightly tragic than before and she needs hugs too. Delta (another anomaly) was a new character with surprising facets to her and I would love to see her take on an even bigger role in the next book (I also I ship her + you-will-find-out-who-when-you-read-this). Mitsue (I cannot hate him, sorry, I tried, but I can’t, and he’s Japanese XD) is ever annoying and a pain in the neck but … ha, I can’t wish him any harm, no.
So…what about the villain, you ask?! I have GOOD NEWS … #cannottellbcspoilers It’ll suffice to say that I was 100% THOROUGHLY SATISFIED with who he was and his role and what he did and KATE EXCEEDED EXPECTATIONS HERE <3
And finally WEST + RUGGER … oh sorry, I mean Areos and Runner. MY PRECIOUS BOYS. THANK YOU INFINITELY KATE. (<< I think she heard me begging for more of them.) They’re awesome :DD
(minor note – there’s even a love triangle like WHAT but no worries, I approved, and if I do, well then, anyone can ;D)
Now that that is all over *whew*
The plot alternates between the Dimension with Fin and the world beneath (<< pun) with Icarus and Hawk. It all tugged on my heartstrings, you know ^-^ There was this mystery element … of whether #certainperson was alive and what his identity really was and what he wanted. And I LOVE IT *shrieks* and when Things Were Revealed I was like YAY AND HURRARY I SAW IT ALL COMING.
This book felt more serious, in a sense, than book one. Or maybe that’s just me and my memory (it was a year ago that I read book one, I think.) But there was this foreboding fear of #foreshadoweddisaster and #badstuff happening that certain characters couldn’t warn certain other characters about (yes, I’m being vague on purpose.)
There were wolves with a very important role and ICARUS EVEN FIGURED OUT HOW TO #cannottellbcspoilers!!
The climax was epic, completely so.
The symbolism is so beautiful. Guys, this is the beyond amazing part of the series – THE SYMBOLISM. The allegory, if you will. In my humble opinion, it was worthy of C. S. Lewis and Ted Dekker, and omw I cannot praise anything higher than that. *nods*
The themes ran so deep like rivers cutting and roaring through a landscape, yet so perfectly a part of that scenery – and hey IT WAS SO SO QUOTABLE.
The writing was aesthetic if you can picture that. And not only the writing. The images, the symbolism, the very pictures the book brings to mind once its’ done. The whole feel and vibe and mood were aesthetic!! Intriguing. Mystical. Pinterest-worthy lol. The SETTING WAS AESTHETIC. I love love love the setting; in my mind it was crystal clear … like a movie.
S U M M E D U P:
- a setting like it was out of a dream
- a plot that never lets you go
- story bursting in symbolism and theme
- girls you want to hug, boys you should call ‘bro’
- conflict that’s hard and deep, portals, disguises, mystery
- super powers, wolves, and snow
- emotion, action, reality
- it was raw, it was moving, just plain #WOAH
(^^ oh look it rhymed)
And I loved it.
ALSO THE ENDING LIKE WHAT IS IT WITH KATE AND THE CLIFF HANGER ENDINGS PLS DO COME ON (spoiler – you will spend your life crying until book 3 comes out.
AND HERE'S THE EXCITING PART. A GIVEAWAY. As a matter of fact, I won my copy of The Blood Race in a giveaway last year. I highly recommend you enter!!
A B O U T T H E A U T H O R
When she’s not hermiting away in her colorfully-painted home office writing her next science fiction, passionate story-teller and adventurer Kate Emmons is probably on the road for a surf or hiking trip, listening to vinyls, or going for a power run. Emmons’ debut novel The Blood Race is the first book in her YA science fiction/fantasy thriller series. Get connected with Kate on your favorite social platform, and be sure to check out http://kaemmons.com/.
a c k n o w l e d g e m e n t
T H A N K Y O U S O M U C H F O R J O I N I N G U S
F O R K A T E ' S B L O G T O U R!
H A V E YOU R E A D T H E B L O O D R A C E ?
O R W O R L D S B E N E A T H ?
D O Y O U W A N T T O ?
I AM FANGIRLING SO HARD RIGHT NOW I CAN'T CONTAIN MYSELF, OKAY!!??
ReplyDeleteTHIS BOOK IS LIFE!!! I need to reread it. Like now. I probably will. This book has a deep meaning to me, too, because I had a job interview around the same time and I was FREAKING OUT LIKE A MANIAC... like I couldn't eat, sleep was... haha who needs sleep at times like these, but I had my Worlds Beneath ARC and it was the ONLY thing that could actually distract me and make me lose my anxiety, even if only for a moment. SO THIS BOOK MEANS SO MUCH TO ME!!!
I love Delta. Like, I know some of the ARC readers weren't big fans of hers, they thought she was manipulative, but I actually think she's vulnerable and needed help and thought you-know-who could help her and he thought he could, too, and it's just one big AMAZING THING!!!
#FinNeedsHugs #IWillHugHim
Okay, I'll stop rambling for now. LOVE THIS SO MUCH, GREAT POST, GIRL!! <3
OH MY GOOOOOSH, I NEED THIS BOOK. *sobs forever* Your review did things to my heart because I loved The Blood Race SO MUCH I CAN'T, and I can't wait for Worlds Beneath. <3
ReplyDeleteFIN GETS A POV??? MY LIFE IS COMPLETE. *falls on face*
Also I love your poem at the end. ;)
I really need to read this series! Is the giveaway just for the U.S?
ReplyDeleteI love all the stunning quote images you made, Ivie! Thanks for being part of the Tour! :)
ReplyDeleteMan, I literally CAN'T WAIT to read this book! I read The Blood Race for the first time literally YESTERDAY and I have to read it again to be able to understand what I’m feeling properly. Great book review, Lisa!
ReplyDeleteEEEPPP I love this!! Your review was so good!!! I'm rather impressed with how much you remember from reading it (lol I suck so bad at remembering things after I read them oops). I think I like Worlds Beneath better than The Blood Race . . . but they are both amaZING!!!
ReplyDelete(also I love those quote things you made! they are gorgeous!!)
OKAY BUT LISA, YOU DID SUCH A GREAT JOB WITH THIS POST LIKE WOWOWOWOWOW. If I hadn't already read Worlds Beneath, you definitely sold me! And those quote graphics? GORGEOUS.
ReplyDeleteSo happy for Kate. Can't wait for everyone to read this epic book!
xx Kenzie | www.paperpizzablog.com
I've heard SO MANY people talk about this book on Twitter and Goodreads, so I definitely need to go buy the first book (and this one!!) very very soon. It sounds FANTASTIC!!
ReplyDeleteYour graphics for the quotes are AMAZING! I love the font and the photos. Great job!
Also, I tagged you in a writing tag over on my blog if you need an idea for a post sometime :D