Welcome to the:
Thomas Nelson’s Young Adult
Summer of 2017 Feature
Title: UnravelingRelease Date: July 11, 2017
In the second installment of the Unblimished Trilogy, YA author Sara Ella asks, “What happens when happily ever after starts to unravel?”
Eliyana Ember doesn’t believe in true love. Not anymore. After capturing the Void and saving the Second Reflection, El only trusts what’s right in front of her. The tangible. The real. Not some unexplained Kiss of Infinity she once shared with the ghost of a boy she’s trying to forget. She has more important things to worry about—like becoming queen of the Second Reflection, a role she is so not prepared to fill.
With the Verity intertwined with her soul and Joshua finally by her side, El is ready to learn more about her mysterious birth land, the land she now rules. So why does she feel like something—or someone—is missing?
When the thresholds begin to drain and the Callings, those powerful magical gifts, begin to fail, El wonders if her connection with Ky Rhyen may have something to do with it. For light and darkness cannot coexist. She needs answers before the Callings disappear altogether. Can El find a way to sever her connection to Ky and save the Reflections—and keep herself from falling for him in the process?
I’m not ready for this.My shoulder is going to rip from its socket. My bicep is a torch, igniting my forearm. His fingers are sliding from mine, and I can’t hold on any longer. All I see is the gorge below, the beads of sweat dewing his temples.
He shouts, “Hold on!”
But the cliff crumbles with each passing blink. If we remain this way, we’ll both be swallowed by the chasm below.
I loosen my grip, my clammy palm slipping.
His eyes plead. Beg. Implore. “Don’t!” His cry echoes.
The river crashes and curls. Waiting to swallow. Devour. Obliterate anything entering its territory. But it isn’t the river I’m afraid of. It’s the black hole beyond it. The beginning of the end.
I know if we disconnect he might be lost forever. “I love you” is what I want to say. Instead I ask him, “Find me?”
His expression corkscrews, a mask of raw emotion. “Always.” His voice is weak, his energy drained. He’s not strong enough. Because of me.
So my fingers splay.
I let go.
Why does my world feel as if it’s unraveling?
Y’all. I can’t even. This book. This series. I am undone.
In my inner card catalog, I file it right next to The Chronicles of Narnia and the Harry Potter series because of the sheer joy it brings me as I unearth each new layer of what lies beneath the story.
There’s so much I want to rave about, gush about, FLAIL about. But I can’t… not until you’ve read it too. Because – spoilers. But let me just say that very little played out like I thought it would in this second installment of Sara Ella’s fabulous series. Unraveling held me captive just as much – if not more – than its predecessor Unblemished. Eliyana. Joshua. Ky. And all the other players in this gorgeously creative story kept me riveted and invested and feeling as though I myself had joined them on this emotionally-intense journey.
Unraveling is brilliantly crafted and charmingly written. With nods to pop culture and classic literature, there is something here for every reader. Humor shows up at just the right moments, and Eliyana makes a completely delightful heroine. The love triangle that I agonized over in Unblemished is, in some ways, more clear cut in Unraveling and more complex in others. AND I LOVE IT!!!! Aaaaaaaaaaa!!! I’m still flailing. And grinning. And crying a little inside. (And this from a person who as a rule hates love triangles.)
Bottom Line: The story that’s being told here is simply exquisite, and with each new bit of information uncovered I fall more in love with this trilogy. I cannot wait for book 3 to see how it all plays out, but at the same time I don’t want to see it end. Sara Ella’s writing style is endearing and creative, her characters a reflection (see what I did there?) of her voice. I cannot recommend these books highly enough – and I would suggest that if you haven’t already read Unblemished you grab it before you start on Unraveling as their story threads are so closely aligned.
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the publisher. These are only my honest opinions.)
My Rating: 5 stars / In a class by itself!
Kissing Level: 3 / Will forget to breathe on occasion!
Sara Ella is the author of Unblemished, book one of the Unblemished Trilogy. Once upon a time, Sara dreamed she would marry a prince and live in a castle, and she did work for Disney! Now she spends her days throwing living room dance parties for her two princesses and conquering realms of her own imaginings. She believes “Happily Ever After is Never Far Away.”
(3) Winners will each win a finished hard copy of Unraveling by Sara Ella, courtesy of the publisher, Thomas Nelson Publishers. Giveaway ends June 2, 2017 at 11:59 PM EST.
5/22 – Melony Teague (Author Interview)
5/23 – Thorn & Vine (review) & Between the Pages of This Bookish Life (Spotlight)
5/24 – A Baker’s Perspective (review), Singing Librarian Books (Spotlight) & YA Book Divas (Spotlight & Excerpt)
5/25 – My So Called Chaos (review) & Thinking Thoughts (Spotlight)
5/26 – Reading is My SuperPower (review)
5/27 – The Green Mockingbird (review)
5/28 – Bookworm Mama (Spotlight)
5/29 – Just Commonly (review)
What about you? Song plays an important role in Unraveling. What song speaks to your soul?
Sigh, Gush away girl! I know! Like serious book hangover right there, I hope you recover soon! And we have to wait a WHOLE YEAR for book 3. And by the way, visit my blog stop to find out the title of book 3. I am in Love!
Great interview Carrie!
A song that really speaks to me is the hymn “On Eagle Wings”.
“What a Beautiful Name” is a song that circles through my mind a lot, our praise team having sung it recently.
This blog post definitely makes me want to continue this series!
Ah, I’m just so excited to read this! I can’t get over that cover, too! July, come quickly! 😀
Just wanted to let you know that you are featured on my Follow Friday post today.
http://books.thetechchef.net/follow-friday-book-bloggers-i-enjoy-and-think-you-will-too/
Hymns always move me. “Even If” by MercyMe has been on my mind much these days.
I’ve been hearing so much about this series. I think I’m going to have to put it on my wish list. I usually don’t read YA or fantasy, but I think I’ll have to make an exception in this case. Love the book review!
I havebook one…seriously contemplating waiting till book three comes out and reading it all at once! 🙂
It told me it didn’t comment…thus the extra…my favorite hymn is Living By Faith.
Living By Faith is my favorite hymn!
Thinking maybe I want to wait for book three before I read…have book one.
“Wonderful Grace of Jesus” speaks to my soul. It makes me so happy to hear the two parts.
I love the country song I’ll Leave This World Loving You. I’m sure it doesn’t mean the same to others as it does for me. It came you the next week after our daughter died. If you forget the first verse the rest of the song spoke to my heart then and still does.
I’m soooo behind! I still need to read the first one! ? But I have to say. I think this is the year of the love triangle. I’m not fond of them either, but this year has brought us some great ones. A Season to Dance, Out of Darkness, and of course, Serena Jones!
I really love the song “Priceless” by For King and Country, and “Breathe” by Jonny Diaz. Among others. 🙂
The cover looks amazing… but love triangle?!? It just so hard for me to get past that in most stories.
Arwen… I get it. I hate love triangles. But I’m so intrigued by this one – there’s a lot more going on than just romance.
This book sounds great, definitely another summer read!
absolutely!
I’ve only heard fantastic reviews of this story. I love when a book keeps me thinking about it long afterward. So happy you can “gush” about this one.
this whole series is a must read!
The song Life Is Beautiful by The Afters inspires me. Sounds like a great book.
Ah!!!! I cannot wait to read this book! Unblemished was fantastic. I am trying not to nibble on jealousy right now that you’ve read Unraveling and I haven’t yet!