Review BWB Hostess: Intertwined by Gena Showalter

 
Title: Intertwined
By: Gena Showalter
Reading Level: Young Adult

Book Whisperer Rating:

Book Description:

Most sixteen-year-olds have friends. Aden Stone has four human souls living inside him:

 One can time-travel.

• One can raise the dead.
• One can tell the future.
• And one can possess another human.  

With no other family and a life spent in and out of institutions, Aden and the souls have become friends. But now, they’re causing him all kinds of trouble.  

Like, he’ll blink and suddenly he’s a younger Aden, reliving the past. One wrong move, and he’ll change the future. Or, he’ll walk past a total stranger and know how and when she’s going to die. 

He’s so over it. All he wants is peace. 

And then he meets a girl who quiets the voices. Well, for as long as he’s with her. Why? Mary Ann Gray is his total opposite. He’s a loner; she has friends. He doesn’t care what anyone thinks; she tries to make everyone happy. And while he attracts the paranormal, she repels it. For her sake, he should stay away. But it’s too late. . .  

Somehow, they share an inexplicable bond of friendship. A bond about to be tested by a werewolf shape-shifter who wants Mary Ann for his own and a vampire princess Aden can’t resist. Two romances, both forbidden. . . doomed. Still, the four will enter a dark underworld of intrigue and danger. . . but not everyone will come out alive. . .

My Review: This was not what I had expected after attempting to read several of Gena Showalters adult books; I was entranced after the first couple chapters. The build up of this story has you guessing everytime you turn around about what the outcome of the book will be; only to be wrong when you read on. Especially, once introduce to Elijah's and his visions the reader is giving glimpses of the future to insure assumptions for the future. Victoria and Aden were a prime example of this for their relationship. We are told about Victoria from the beginning and then were lead along with Mary Ann only to find that she was not the girl in Elijah's visions at all. Ultimately, I was impressed with Showalters writing ability where many books the relationship is immediate and unwarranted; Intertwined did not leave me with this feeling. The relationship was immediate, but Aden visions of her prior to their meeting lead the reader through a build up of emotions so it appears to Aden was in love with a dream that becomes his reality. As if that was not enough, I have never read a story that contained two couples both of which gave me the warm and tingly feeling that accompanies a wonderfully created romance. I was shocked to find this with both couples in this book. Showalter did not follow the typical steortypes of characters in this book, making Intertwined unique and captivating. Intertwined was a diamond in the ruff that I had not anticipated.

 Discussion Questions:

 #1 Do you feel the ending was cut short and needed more to be resolved before the book ended?

I felt Intertwined was concluded much like most of the other books we read. They left on that CLIFF O DEATH so that we can sit and stew on what is going to happen in the next book. I look forward to continuing with this series.

 #2 Regarding Question #1, what are your thoughts on series books? For one you get more and more and more - depending on how long the series drags on - for another some series leave you with very little resolution at the end of the novels, i.e. the Merry Gentry series where only a couple of hours pass within the time span of one book. Do you find this is just an authors way of having guaranteed book sales - or do you really enjoy series and love reading about your fav characters over and over again? 

I enjoy series of book, granted there are authors will a few series that it seems in the end the books lose their steam and become harder to read because they do not have the momentum that the first few did. That being said, there are also series that have double digit books that are still running. I believe it is part of being an awesome author to know when you fifteen minutes are up with a particular series or book. That is what makes them the greats that we keep turning too.

#3 Which "trapped" soul was your favorite and do you see potential in the future story lines with the remaining three?

Eve was my favorite, and I feel that this author is already starting to lead us in a direction. Therefore, my hopes are already set for that soul. (Trying not to spoil to much.)

 

#4 When a larger-than-life character such as Vlad Tepes aka Dracula is used as a side-plot character do you believe it gives the story a more factual base, or makes it less real?

 

I felt Vlad to be an awesome charater in the book. It added emphasis to that fact that Mary Ann and Aden powers are so strong. Although, I was very put out by the fact that he was killed off so easily in the end of the book. I expected a little more, but I do feel that if he had continued in the story line it could potentially have taken away from the story. He is a larger-than-life character, so a character in theory was fine to actually be present in the story would have been different.


#5 What did you think of the side plot involving Tucker and Penny? Do you think the issues from that plot were adequately resolved?

 

This was a building block for Riley and Mary Ann. This being a side plot was an opportunity for Riley, and I do not think the relationship would have been as powerful and as well created without this side plot.

 

#6 What is your best guess as to what Aden Stone's superpower is - the power he possess without his souls? 

This is one tough question. If I was to guess I would guess that his ability is to see the dead. When Aden spoke to John he seemed surprised that he was able to see a dead person, so I would think this was a power he was no familiar with. Aden already knew what all of his spirits powers were so I would assume his would be the only one left.