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Tuesday, September 10, 2013

NICOLE'S REVIEW: Oppression by Jessica Therrien

Title: Oppression
Author: Jessica Therrien
Format Acquired: Paperback
Publication Date: February 28 2012
Publishing House: ZOVA Books
ISBN: 9780984035045
Source of Copy: Fully Booked

Summary:

Elyse knows what it means to keep a secret. She's been keeping secrets her whole life. Two, actually. First, that she ages five times slower than the average person, so that while she looks eighteen years old, she's closer to eighty. Second, that her blood has a mysterious power to heal.

For Elyse, these things don't make her special. They make her life dangerous. After the death of her parents, she's careful to keep her secret as closely guarded as possible. Now, only one other person in the world knows about her age and ability.

Or so she thinks.

Elyse is not the only one keeping secrets. There are others like her all over the world, descendants of the very people the Greeks considered gods. She is one of them, and they have been waiting for her.

Among so many of her kind, she should not be very remarkable - except for the prophecy. Some believe she will put an end to traditions, safeguarded by violence, which have oppressed her people for centuries. Others are determined to keep her from doing just that. But for Elyse, the game is just beginning - and she's not entirely willing to play by their rules.

(Image and information courtesy of Goodreads; Summary lifted from actual book)

Review:

I had the urge to read something mythology-based so I thought I'd pick this one up, although I really wish I hadn't.

Elyse ages slower than your average human and her blood has healing properties. She's been hiding these facts for almost all her life but a chance encounter with a boy opens her eyes to the fact that she's not the only one keeping secrets. There's a whole community of people like her and they think that she's the one they've all been waiting for.

I couldn't connect with Elyse. She's annoying. She dives headfirst into things she knows nothing about and her transition into her new world with all her new friends was frankly unbelievable. Her powers? Not so interesting. I mean having the power to heal others is pretty cool and all but when the right side of your body can heal and the left poisons? I don't know about you guys, but that sounds pretty weird to me.

Another irritating aspect of this book would have to be the romance. Instant. Love. How very quaint. Elyse meets this pretty boy named William and after a few chapters she's totally in love with him. Halfway through the book and they're dating. Are you kidding me? Elyse barely knows the guy! There was no build-up, no tension. It was like William was dropped oh-so-conveniently onto her lap and bam, instant boyfriend. William's also not my type of love interest, he's too wimpy and he follows Elyse around like a little lost puppy.

The pacing was dreadful as well, it was so slow and I would have understood if it was about Elyse learning about her new world and getting used to her powers but no. It was chock full of Elyse and William moments, Elyse being a selfish brat - she's a danger to her long time human friend Anna and still she keeps visiting her! - and mythology. The mythology was easy to grasp, it's actually really basic and truthfully? There wasn't much woven into the story. 

Suffice to say Oppression is a huge disappointment. I couldn't connect with the characters and the mythology is just lacking in detail. The story is very lackluster and that insta-love? Absurd. Despite the numerous good reviews this book has gotten, I'm gonna throw in the towel and give up on this series. 

Rating:


                       

2 comments:

  1. I didn't like this as well. I agree on all points with your review. I don't get all the rave reviews either. Oh well. Guess we couldn't like them all!

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    Replies
    1. I know! This probably just wasn't for us. :) Thanks for stopping by Dianne!

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