Renhala, a review, an interview and a giveaway

I will share with you today my review of Renhala by Amy Joy Lutchen, an interview with this amazing author and a giveaway (well actually the author has been very generous and is giving away two different prices). But first my review:

 Renhala
Amy Joy Lutchen

Publication Date: September 27, 2012
Finish Date: November 27, 2012
Format: e-book
Source: copy for review

From Goodreads (contains small spoilers): Kailey Rooke, timid
accountant, dedicated to philanthropic work, finds herself spiraling
into a deep depression after she suffers a horrifyingly odd and
humiliating assault, to only discover more of these freakish assaults
occurring across the globe.

A chance discovery leads Kailey to a
meeting with elderly Gunthreon, actual master of persuasion. Gunthreon,
who seems to know too much of Kailey’s history for her liking, opens
Kailey’s eyes to a coexisting realm she never knew existed: Renhala,
while entrusting her with the knowledge of her newfound power as
karmelean, serving as a beacon to the Higher Ones. Kailey slowly starts
revealing new talents, and Gunthreon is fascinated with what she starts
achieving.

She soon discovers that Renhala is in danger, and this
danger has been leaking into her own realm. As she uncovers secrets
within herself, and attempts to toughen up, she fuses with an unlikely
band of fellow travelers (including a dragon, woodsprite,
six-hundred-pound greble, her faithful female canine companion, and a
“giver”), falls into an unexpected love triangle, deals with her sexy
and flirtatious best friend’s “issues,” and finds the courage to master a
new deadly weapon.

On her mission to save Renhala, Kailey will
find herself running from life-threatening disasters, such as greble
Tartarin, who likes to remind Kailey that when he catches her, he plans
on eating her brains with ice cream; she’ll run from the deadly meeples:
small cute bunnies with talons and an undeniable thirst for imposing
self-destruction on others. Kailey will also run into the possibility
that a centuries-old Renhalan rumor is true, that advanced technology
existing in Kailey’s realm shortens all life spans.

As blood is
shed and puzzles near completion, Kailey pulls from deep within herself,
conjuring up mystical qualities that enable her to astonish as once
predicted at her birth, but despite the newfound strength, Kailey will
discover that monsters not only come in ugly packages, but can be easily
disguised as those she has come to love and trust.

Lately
I have been reading many books that are quite short and fast paced, I
love those kind of books, because I can start a book finish it and then
quickly start another book. I didn’t realize that sometimes I miss
reading books that are a bit longer. When I started this book I was
wondering whether to start it now or not, as it was quite long (430
e-book pages). I ended up just starting it and quickly I forgot the
number of pages and immensed myself in the world of Renhala.

The
book starts off slow paced and a bit confusing. I was actually wondering
whether to continue it or not, because I was sure something
supernatural was mentioned in the blurb and well I didn’t see any hint
of that in the first 50 pages. And then suddenly things start making
sense, the supernatural is introduced and I was sucked into this story.
The story is awesome, it’s a bout Kailey and about friendship and love.
About good and evil and grey. And so much more.

The characters
are loveable! I couldn’t wait to read more about them and I especially
liked Kailey, she is such a strong girl, but also so normal at times. A
few other favourites are: Lupa, Bu, Jenna, Kioto, Greer and Ladimir.
Kailey meets so many interesting and nice creatures and I couldn’t help
but like them all, they all have these characteristics that make them
unique. Although I wouldn’t mind spending more time reading about all of
them and learning more about them. I think the author did an awesome
job creating a whole cast of likeable characters.

The evil
characters were not as easy to like and I thought it was difficult to
really get why they acted like they did. I would’ve liked a bit more
insight in way they did these evil things and who they are.

The
world building is also done briliantly. Although after finishing the
book I still have so many questions. The author describes the world
perfectly, not too much details, but enough to get a good sense of how
this world looks. I also loved all the originaly touches, like the life
pond and the strange creatures like the Grebles, the Meeples and the
Mooncats. I do think that one book is just too less to get to know all
of the world and I am would like to learn more about this amazing world.

To
conclude: a great story, slower paced and longer than what I usually
read, but I loved it! The only minpoints are the fact that the beginning
is quite slow and I didn’t get a good idea why the evil characters
acted like they did. The story was original and interesting, the
characters were likeable and the world building was done really well.
The story was longer then what I usually read, but I only wished it was
even longer, because I already miss reading about Kailey and Renhala.

Now a bit more information about the author:
Was born in Chicago and slept in a dresser drawer for the first few weeks of my life, marking me as a future claustrophobe.

I
studied at the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana (man I grew up
quick), where I became a number, but decided it was a good number.

I now write in my spare time as I eat snacks, making sure they are not in multiples of three. That number makes me nervous.

And had the opportunity to do an interview with this amazing author, here it is:

 

  
a Rafflecopter giveaway