Crewel World #3 Unraveled

Presenting Crewel World #3 Unraveled by Gennifer Albin.

Here is the summary of the book:

Autonomous. Independent. Dangerous. They tried to control her. Now she’ll destroy them.

Things have changed behind the walls of the Coventry and new threats lurk in its twisted corridors. When Adelice returns to Arras, she quickly learns that something rotten has taken hold of the world and Cormac Patton needs her to help him reestablish order. However, peace comes at a terrible price. As the Guild manipulates the citizens of Arras, Adelice discovers that she’s not alone, and she must let go of her past to fight for mankind’s future. She will have to choose between an unimaginable alliance and a deadly war that could destroy everyone she loves.

Unraveled as a whole felt disappointing. 'Crewel' was the cream of the crop, 'Altered' almost following at the heels but 'Unraveled' left a bitter after taste. Unraveled was supposed to be the big showdown, the big action-packed finale but somehow the whole experience felt anti-climatic and lackluster. Starts where Altered ended and man does it crawl at the slowest of speed imaginable.

Thing is Altered promised us a lot but Unraveled went stale on them. Beginning where the second book left but then as I mentioned things just went the slowpoke way. Adelice was angry, scheming and rebellious in this book but apparently it was all in her mind, the one reason she had decided to give herself up was because she was confident she would be able to change Cormac Patton's mind and work to severe Arras from Earth as was planned.

Apparently all of that character development that happened in the first 2 books were for naught because she remained rather docile in the face of the enemy. The most powerful of all the spinsters and she just gave in and let things run in its own way. Of course when the action begins.... was the best part of the book because really Adelice wasted our time ..... I kinda get that maybe Albin was trying to establish that tense atmosphere of Arras but it didn't bear much fruit.

Jost & Eric didn't get much page space too. Really again after all that and seeing virtually nothing here was disappointing. And I don't believe i'm saying this but Cormac Patton, our villain extraordinaire was the one who commanded much space here and rather shone through what with his dissent into insanity. The resulting climax was good of course but the post climax chapters were a bit too much and not really needed. Unraveled was a bittersweet after taste but I will totally look for what Gennifer Albin publishes next.

"A bittersweet finale to an exotically exciting adventure"

Genre :      Young Adult, Sci-fi, Dystopia, Post-Apocalyptic, Romance

Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)

Release Date: 7th October, 2014

My Copy: bought (ebook)

Rate:              3/5 (Liked It)

Other Books in the series (review links):
                #1 Crewel 
                #2 Altered

Buy:           Amazon | Book Depository 

Crewel World #2 Altered

Presenting Crewel World #2 Altered by Gennifer Albin.

Here is the summary of the book:

Life. Possibility. Choice.
All taken from Adelice by the Guild—until she took them back.

But amid the splendid ruins of Earth, Adelice discovers how dangerous freedom can be. Hunted by soulless Remnants sent by Cormac Patton and the Guild, Adelice finds a world that’s far from deserted. Although allies are easy to find on Earth, knowing who to trust isn’t. Because everyone has secrets, especially those Adelice loves most. Secrets they would kill to protect. Secrets that will redefine each of them. Torn between two brothers and two worlds, Adelice must choose what to fight for.

In this thrilling sequel to Crewel, Adelice is about to learn how tangled up her past and future really are. Her parents ran to protect her, but nothing can save her from her destiny, and once she uncovers the truth, it will change everything.

Crewel presented the magic. Altered presented the science behind the magic. Sequel to the brilliantly written 'Crewel', 'Altered' serves as the perfect addition to the Crewel World series. Crewel showed us Arras. Altered shows the post-apocalyptic Earth, left barren and desolate by Arras' leeching. And it was a long time coming. Taking off where Crewel left off, continuing Adelice, Jost and Eric's journey on Earth.

By all extents and purposes, Earth in a gray area. Run by a man with his own agenda. Earth is a world limping on the slow way to recovery. Arras may represent a formal setting, with all things proper, Earth on the other hand represents the ruins and the civilization on its last legs in this futuristic society. Sunrruners (harvest & collect sunlight), Remanants (soulless zombies) and the introduction of new characters gives this sequel much to tell about. This by no means is a bridge story guys, standing on its own two feet more like.

And if you think Crewel packed some mean punch then think again because whatever you thought would not be possible, comes to pass in Altered. With the introduction of new characters like Dante, Jax, Falcon, Kincaid and the man behind Kairos himself, things begin to spiral out and Adelice has no idea what to do with the situation. The romance on the other other hand goes full blown triangle. And in between Adelice with the help from Dante tries to get a handle on her ability in uncharted space, Earth's raw weave.

Of course, what is going to happen in 'Unraveled' is still up in the air (for me) but I will say this, Gennifer Albin you rock.'Crewel' introduces us to a fantastic futuristic society where almost anything can be achieved, where the art of weaving means something much more real and much more dangerous. Then 'Altered' followed. A sensational follow up with higher stakes and much more ground to cover. I am uncertain who to support - Jost or Eric, brothers with a past (much partial to Jost) ...... but hopefully the last book will clear that up and make for fitting finale to this most singular and breathtaking piece of literature.

"An enticingly sensational and an unforgettable sequel"

Genre :      Young Adult, Sci-fi, Dystopia, Post-Apocalyptic, Romance

Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)

Release Date: 29th October, 2013

My Copy: bought (ebook)

Rate:              4/5 (Really Liked It)

Other Books in the series (review links):
                #1 Crewel

Buy:           Amazon | Book Depository 

Crewel World #1 Crewel

This has been one of the best weeks of my reading history i'm getting to read all sorts of amazing books....that literally needs you to be present in both body and mind to understand what it is about.....Crewel was one such book. Presenting Crewel World #1 Crewel by Gennifer Albin.

Here is the summary of the book:

Incapable. Awkward. Artless. That’s what the other girls whisper behind her back. But sixteen year-old Adelice Lewys has a secret: she wants to fail. Gifted with the ability to weave time with matter, she’s exactly what the Guild is looking for, and in the world of Arras, being chosen as a Spinster is everything a girl could want. It means privilege, eternal beauty, and being something other than a secretary. It also means the power to embroider the very fabric of life. But if controlling what people eat, where they live and how many children they have is the price of having it all, Adelice isn’t interested. Not that her feelings matter, because she slipped and wove a moment at testing, and they’re coming for her—tonight. Now she has one hour to eat her mom’s overcooked pot roast. One hour to listen to her sister’s academy gossip and laugh at her Dad’s stupid jokes. One hour to pretend everything’s okay. And one hour to escape. Because once you become a Spinster, there’s no turning back.

I am SPEECHLESS.....literally in awe of this book. This book....its much bigger than any other dystopia released to date. YOU ALL MARK MY WORDS....CREWEL WORLD is much more than the HUNGER GAMES EVER WAS....MARK MY WORDS ALL OF YOU!! (Also i read the Faber and Faber imprint of the book but i'm using the US cover because I like this one much better than that).

OK! You all saw me up there in the above paragraph....many of you are thinking I'm just exaggerating but i'm not.....it really is bigger, better and more dangerous than THG...Come on having the power to control time and matter, the ability to alter or raze entire space and time to put rebels to stop in an instant...that is much more dangerous than pitting children against each other in a murderous game.

Fascinatingly crafted and extremely fresh out of the box...this is the story of Aras, a world under the jurisdiction of the Guild. A ministry of sorts, the ruling party. Going so far as to rule over every aspects of life....over the seams of time. That is what the Coventry exists for. (GOD this is another book that is so good that i'm finding it very hard to review....but i'll try and hope you all are with me). The Coventry controls the fabrics of time and matter, a group of spinsters...working the looms, weaving the strands of time and matter around them. Everything in their hands, each life, each element....if they are commanded to remove something or someone....remove entire towns....all they need to do is to cut the string and it happens.....and there is no going back from there. The assailant (against the government) can make all the noises they want....but at the end they just stand by, unable to do anything.

This is the story of Adelice....chosen by the Guild during the testing period to serve Aras as a spinster at the Coventry but under the severe tutelage of her parents...she rebels from the start.....pushed into a world she barely understood, a dangerous world....at every turn facing for her instant death or the threat of losing her only family forces her to somewhat submit. The Spinsters, it seems are the actual rulers, wielding the power of time but Adelice soon understands that it is the deceptive and manipulative men, the Guild rulers who are the real threat. But Aras is built upon secrets, secrets that have the power to shake its foundation.....and as the noose tightens around Adelice to submit to the Guild fully, she must find her footing before she becomes the perfect marionette. Dancing to the wimp of the Guild and loose all she holds dear.

Again I say Gennifer Albin has left me speechless. The level of creativity, the perfectly astounding world building, the narrative and the idea to use Crewel work (a form of embroidery) as the way the spinsters control the elements around them. Now a story it seems is always incomplete without romance, but while a love triangle begins to form it takes a back seat and instead focuses on Adelice getting her baring. I definitely liked the evident growth of Adelice as a strong character throughout it all. At first she rebels.....that's all does but as the story progresses she learns the know-how of the world and turns out to be a decisive heroine worthy of consideration.

It is actually very interesting how the authors are constantly pushing the boundaries of this genre with their heightened imagination always coming out with such new and fresh ideas that have never been attempted before. Time and matter are the basic building blocks of life....control over them may well translate into it being the ultimate form of dystopia, no free will, never knowing what may happen to you the minute you start having conflicting thoughts. I absolutely loved it. While there is no news of the name of the next book.....but seeing the explosive ending of this book.....i'm definitely creweling with anticipation about what danger it would bring.....I definitely want to see this book made in a movie.

"Truly, bigger, better and much more dangerous  than the Hunger Games" 

Genre :      Young Adult, Sci-fi, Dystopia


Publisher: Faber and Faber


My Copy:  Publisher and Netgalley


Rate:              5/5 (It was Amazing)