Unmade (The Lynburn Legacy #3) by Sarah Rees Brennan

Title:Unmade
Series: The Lynburn Legacy #3
Author: Sarah Rees Brennan
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
Release Date:September 23rd 2014

Summary from Goodreads:
Powerful love comes with a price. Who will be the sacrifice?

Kami has lost the boy she loves, is tied to a boy she does not, and faces an enemy more powerful than ever before. With Jared missing for months and presumed dead, Kami must rely on her new magical link with Ash for the strength to face the evil spreading through her town.

Rob Lynburn is now the master of Sorry-in-the-Vale, and he demands a death. Kami will use every tool at her disposal to stop him. Together with Rusty, Angela, and Holly, she uncovers a secret that might be the key to saving the town. But with knowledge comes responsibility—and a painful choice. A choice that will risk not only Kami’s life, but also the lives of those she loves most.

This final book in the Lynburn Legacy is a wild, entertaining ride from beginning to shocking end.

Review

Sarah Rees Brennan really knows how to make me laugh and want to cry all within a couple of chapters.  Unmade was a truly fantastic, heart breaking, action-driven final book.  This is truly how series should end!

Similar to the first two books, I loved the relationships, friendships, family love, and overall story. The witty banter between Kami and Jared is the best it has ever been.  Kami is constantly coming up with funny nicknames for him that have me laughing out loud.  Even though I love the banter, I adore the fact that the friendships in the story are even stronger and player a bigger role in the plot than the romances.  Rusty, Angela, Holly, and Kami would really do anything for one another.  Their friendship is powerful, rare, and honest.  At times their love for one another and the risks they take will bring tears to your eyes.

Family is not always a common theme in YA literature and this series has it in spades.  Kami has such a strong love for her family and they all play a big role in the story.  The family adds depth to Kami's character and to the overall plot. As for Kami, she is a rock star hero who propels the fast paced, action packed plot forward.

There is humor, tragedy, war, and love within this last installment in The Lynburn Legacy.  I was completely taken by surprise by certain parts, I applaud Brennan for taking risks that while make for a tough read truly make the book a fantastic one.  I urge you to give this series a try, it is one of my all time favorites, it is fantastic beginning to end!

Stacking the Shelves (108) - Jan 24th

Stacking the Shelves - hosted by Tynga at Tynga's Reviews - features books that you bought, borrowed, rented from the library, received for review, etc.

Upcoming Reads

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Girl Defective by Simmone Howell
Unmade (The Lynburn Legacy #3) by Sarah Rees Brennan

And don't miss our Two Year Blogoversary Giveaway! 

What books are stacking your shelves??

Untold (The Lynburn Legacy #2) by Sarah Rees Brennan

Title: Untold
Series: The Lynburn Legacy
Author: Sarah Rees Brennan
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
Release Date: September 24th 2013
Pages: Hardcover, 370 pages
Source: Library

Summary from Goodreads:
It's time to choose sides....

On the surface, Sorry-in-the-Vale is a sleepy English town. But Kami Glass knows the truth. Sorry-in-the-Vale is full of magic. In the old days, the Lynburn family ruled with fear, terrifying the people into submission in order to kill for blood and power. Now the Lynburns are back, and Rob Lynburn is gathering sorcerers so that the town can return to the old ways.

But Rob and his followers aren’t the only sorcerers in town. A decision must be made: pay the blood sacrifice, or fight. For Kami, this means more than just choosing between good and evil. With her link to Jared Lynburn severed, she’s now free to love anyone she chooses. But who should that be?

A darkly humorous take on Gothic romance, Sarah Rees Brennan's Lynburn Legacy weaves together the tale of a heroine desperate to protect those she loves, two boys hoping to be saved, and the magical forces that will shape their destiny.

What I Liked

• The main character - Kami Glass She is just fantastic.  Kami is not only witty but stubborn and great friend.  She keeps the story going and kept me laughing the whole story.  Here is an example of her awesomeness:
  
   "One of those mistake-identity makeouts," Kami said defensively.  "They happen." "Oh, sure," Angela replied. "In Shakespearean comedies, all the time." "You are full of cruelty and mockery," Kami said. "My heart breaks to think of the day I entrusted you with the fragile flower of my girlish friendship."

• The secondary characters.  Every character introduced has a role and purpose in the story.  Kami's family plays a part as well as all the townspeople.  Angela and her brother her fantastic, he his so cocky but in a humorous roll your eyes kind of way. 
• The love story. If you read Unspoken, then you will know how it ended. Untold picked up right where Unspoken left off.  The tension between Kami and Jared just radiates off the pages; without giving away too much, I will say that I was definitely cheering and grinning at certain parts :)
  

  
  "Every time you felt alone in a crowd, alone by yourself, forever and essentially alone, and don't pretend there weren't moments like that.  Every time you felt worthless, every time you thought there was no purpose to existing, no center to the world and no peace to be found. I never had a single moment like that, I was never lonely a day of my life, until now."

  
  
• The witty and sarcastic comments.  They never stopped.  Similar to the first book, I loved how Rees Brennan could blend such an entertaining dialogue with suspense and romance flawlessly.  

What I Didn't

• Not much!  I have a love-hate relationship with the cliffhangers... I have wait until September to read the next book and I am left just hanging!  I want more resolution but can still absolutely appreciate the storing and the ending.  Here is a foreshadow/hint at the ending without giving any context or character. " This is the worst mistake I will ever make."  

Bottom Line

GAHHH!  If you love witty, sarcastic, and funny characters mixed with sorcery then this series if for you! If you are curious about book #1 Unspoken, check out my review here. Sarah Rees Brennan is the queen of cliff-hangers; I cannot wait for the third book.  Untold tied up the cliff hanger of book one and just jumbled up all my recently recovered feelings to leave them hanging again!
  

I'm Waiting On Untold (The Lynburn Legacy #2) by Sarah Rees Brennan

“Waiting On” Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine to shine a spotlight on upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating!

This week I chose...

Title: Untold
Series: The Lynburn Legacy
Author: Sarah Rees Brennan
Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK
Release Date: August 29, 2013

Summary from Goodreads:
Free from bonds, but not each other

It’s time to choose sides… On the surface, Sorry-in-the-Vale is a sleepy English town. But Kami Glass knows the truth. Sorry-in-the-Vale is full of magic. In the old days, the Lynburn family ruled with fear, terrifying the people into submission in order to kill for blood and power. Now the Lynburns are back, and Rob Lynburn is gathering sorcerers so that the town can return to the old ways.

But Rob and his followers aren’t the only sorcerers in town. A decision must be made: pay the blood sacrifice, or fight. For Kami, this means more than just choosing between good and evil. With her link to Jared Lynburn severed, she’s now free to love anyone she chooses. But who should that be?’

I flew through the first book in the series so I can't wait to see what happens next!  Some of the sneak peeks have me super curious about what will happen with Kami and Jared.

What are you waiting on?

Unspoken (The Lynburn Legacy #1) by Sarah Rees Brennan

Title: Unspoken (The Lynburn Legacy #1)
Author: Sarah Rees Brennan
Publisher: Random House
Release Date: September 11, 2012
Pages: 370, Hardcover
Rating: 4.5 stars

Summary from Goodreads:

Kami Glass loves someone she’s never met . . . a boy she’s talked to in her head ever since she was born. She wasn’t silent about her imaginary friend during her childhood, and is thus a bit of an outsider in her sleepy English town of Sorry-in-the-Vale. Still, Kami hasn’t suffered too much from not fitting in. She has a best friend, runs the school newspaper, and is only occasionally caught talking to herself. Her life is in order, just the way she likes it, despite the voice in her head.

But all that changes when the Lynburns return.

The Lynburn family has owned the spectacular and sinister manor that overlooks Sorry-in-the-Vale for centuries. The mysterious twin sisters who abandoned their ancestral home a generation ago are back, along with their teenage sons, Jared and Ash, one of whom is eerily familiar to Kami. Kami is not one to shy away from the unknown—in fact, she’s determined to find answers for all the questions Sorry-in-the-Vale is suddenly posing. Who is responsible for the bloody deeds in the depths of the woods? What is her own mother hiding? And now that her imaginary friend has become a real boy, does she still love him? Does she hate him? Can she trust him?

First off, I love the cover of this book :) It fits the book so well both intriguing and a bit dark and spooky. Kami Glass is a very determined high school student on a mission to discover what secrets her small town of Sorry-in-the Vale is keeping hidden and what role does the Lynburn family play. She starts the high school newspaper with her best friend Angela to publish her findings. Kami never has outgrown her imaginary friend. Even now in high school she seeks his comfort, having conversations only Kami and her imaginary friend can hear. 

The Lynburn family returns to Sorry-in-the-Vale bringing drama with them. Ash’s good looks and confident nature allow him to easily fit into school and even more easily into the Newspaper. Jared, Ash’s mysterious bad-boy cousin, is rumored to have killed his father and in need for some serious reform. Even though others tell her to stay away from Jared, Kami can’t do it. Kami, Angela, Holly, and the Lynburn boys take on the adventure of figuring out what is going on in this small town, who is responsible for the animal killings, and what secrets are the people of Sorry-in-the-Vale keeping. 

I read this in a day; I was so engulfed in the story and amused by the witty comments from all the characters. It truly was a great read. Unspoken was a fairytale-meet dark, secretive England town-meet magical families. Each character was so vividly described with unique personalities. Kami is full of witty remarks and doesn’t really take no for an answer. 

Kami: “… it cannot be denied that Mrs. Lynburn was a ferociously private person. To the point of ferociously throwing her walker at certain innocently curious children.” 

Brennan had me laughing through the whole story yet still enjoying the mystery and suspense of the secrets that were being uncovered. The plot was fast past and full of action. Kami and Jared have such an interesting dynamic it is hard to call it love story with their back and forth feelings but you just keep reading and reading to see what happens to this “imaginary” friend. 

“I don’t want to be sane. I don’t want to be normal, said Jared. I just want you.” 

 I am like AHHH, <3 him.  Then the ending … AHHHHHHHHURGHHHH how are you going to leave me waiting like that?!?!

Overall: This was easily a 4.5 star read, I loved the imaginary friend aspect, the fresh and original plot, the witty banter, the magical town, and the dark/spooky but fun nature of the story.