Monday, April 28, 2014

Review: Within the Realm (The Gifted Realm #1) by Jillian Neal

Title: Within the Realm (The Gifted Realm #1)
Author: Jillian Neal
Source: Xpresso Book Tours
Genre: New Adult, Paranormal
Release Date: June 25, 2013
Reviewed by: Jasmyn

The Gifted walk among us. They are unseen, but in plain sight. The Earth’s energies are as visible to them as the tangible world is to us and they can harness and bend these forces to their will. Atop the Pentagon resides the government of the Gifted Realm.

Rainer Lawson is set to join the ranks of Elite Officers in the Gifted Police force. With his fellow officers, they will work together, using their abilities, to try and end the most sinister criminal organization in existence. His parents fought and died to re-establish the Realm, and he won’t allow them to have sacrificed in vain.

The will to protect those he loves has always driven Rainer, but his desperation to protect Emily, the love of his life, consumes him. While passions ignite and vengeance is sought, Rainer may discover that all of his money, fame, and power, could cost him the only thing that has ever truly mattered.




This book was not quite what I expected.  As the first in the series there was a lot of world and character building - setting the stage for the story.  But it seemed like that was all it was.  I just couldn't seem to figure out what the big conflict was for the story.  Almost the whole book was about the two couples trying to be "together" and all the doubts and insecurities they experienced trying to make this happen.  I thik it would have been nice to this once or twice, but not for the majority of a 400+ page book.

It wasn't until the last 10% or so that I really got a fee for what was going to be happening - it still hadn't happened yet until the last few pages.  I love character and world building, descriptive passages, and anticipation.  This one took it too far for me though.

There were some things I really liked, too.  In the beginning, we are introduced to our main characters and part of the world history as they are taking their last final exam at college.  The essay questions Rainer was answering and a bit of his internal dialog about them were a great way to introduce The Gifted political system and some of both the character and the world history.

I'm hoping that book two will be a little more interesting.  I'm curious to see what the last few pages of the book will lead to now that we have what I think is our major conflict.  I do enjoy to concept of their energy.  It's not exactly magic, more of a way of manipulating the world around them.

*This book was received in exchange for an honest review*


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