Unblemished
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4.3 • 12 Ratings
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- $9.99
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- $9.99
Publisher Description
Eliyana can't bear to look at her own reflection. But what if that were only one Reflection--one world? What if another world exists where her blemish could become her strength?
Eliyana is used to the shadows. With a birthmark covering half her face, she just hopes to graduate high school unscathed. That is, until Joshua hops a fence and changes her perspective. No one, aside from her mother, has ever treated her like he does: normal. Maybe even beautiful. Because of Joshua, Eliyana finally begins to believe she could be loved.
But one night her mother doesn't come home, and that's when everything gets weird. Now Joshua is her new, and rather reluctant, legal Guardian. Add a hooded stalker and a Central Park battle to the mix and you've gone from weird to otherworldly.
Eliyana soon finds herself in a world much larger and more complicated than she's ever known. A world enslaved by a powerful and vile man. And Eliyana holds the answer to defeating him. How can an ordinary girl, a blemished girl, become a savior when she can't even save herself?
The first in the low-spice, YA romantasy trilogyBooks best read in order:Book 1: UnblemishedBook 2: UnravelingBook 3: UnbreakableFull-length bookIncludes discussion questions for book clubs
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
A high school coming-of-age tale combining dystopian magical realism, a winsome romance, and a good-versus-evil messiah plot, Ella's debut novel is an ambitiously intricate mashup of genres that never quite comes together. Eliyana Ember, a senior at the prestigious West Prep in New York City, has always been self-conscious of the birthmark on her cheek. Just weeks before her eighteenth birthday, Eliyana is left as the legal responsibility of her twenty-one-year-old next-door neighbor, Joshua, when her artist mom suddenly dies in a fire. When she makes the mistake of going to a party to combat her grief, Eliyana is kidnapped by Ky, a young man with a strange power over her, and transported to the Second Reflection a parallel world existing within New York that seems familiar to Eliyana from her mother's paintings. The novel struggles to find its footing amidst the many forces at play: building the world of the Second Reflection, introducing the broad cast of characters, weaving together the many plot points, and keeping the romantic tensions lively. The bookis at its best in the quiet moments between battles and explanations, when Eliyana can draw herself out, stop hiding her birthmark, and become proud of what her unique feature could mean. Although her promisingly ambitious debut struggles to maintain a clear focus, Ella has created a captivating, relatable protagonist and never hesitates as she keeps thingsmoving briskly through the many twists and turns.
Customer Reviews
Wow!!
Oh man this book is awesome!! Couldn't put it down! Love love Loved it! Can't wait for the second book!!
UNBLEMISHED
UNBLEMISHED by Sara Ella. Is a YA urban fantasy. A unique story and style,some of the scene are very beautiful .Elyanne has two crimson birthmarks on her face. Her friend is Joshua, is always there to make sure she eats, and watching over her. There was the light side, till her mom dies, then the darkness comes about. She holds the key to unravel this, as well as her mom lying to her. Interesting, character of Elyanne very well done, and what she was feeling. For those that like fantasy books will enjoy this. Given book by Thomas Nelson Publisher and my voluntary review and my honest opinion I have given.
Stunning debut! Absolutely adored it!
Sara Ella, you are a gorgeous writer! I loved being immersed in this unique world with such beautiful prose to pull me along. Eliyana's character development throughout, being able to accept herself for her inner beauty and finding her self worth, was such a relatable way to ground your character in a world of griffins and tromes :). I read this in less than 24 hours because I had to find out more about this world and these characters. I know the Shatter Me series by Tahereh Mafi happens to be one of Sara's favorite series, and I got total Shatter Me vibes in the best way possible from this book. Dying for book 2 to come around. How can it leave on that cliff hanger?!