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  • A must read!4

    Hilda What if everyone could live forever, except you?

    In five thousand years, every soul is reincarnated. Everyone in Heart city rejoice in their forever existence. They will die and born as a baby in new body, but their soul will remain the same. The promise of living forever has made people gone stagnant until a woman named Ciana died. The horrible thing is, she never comes back to life. In exchange of her soul, a new soul is born. Her mother named her Ana, a word that means 'empty'.

    In eighteen years of her life, Ana has been living with her cruel mother, Li. They are living outside Heart because Li can't bear the humiliation of having a newsoul as her child. Li convinces Ana that because of her, Ciana is dead. She is a mistake. A nosoul. Everyone in Heart hates her. A nosoul doesn't need her private things. A nosoul has no skill to help community. A nosoul has no right to love.

    Ana rarely meets people other than her mother. Li never teaches her anything, so Ana learns from observing. She teaches herself to speak, read, and enjoy music. Music is everything for Ana. One of her biggest dream is to meet her favorite musician in Heart, Dossam. Ana is practically worshipping Dossam's music and she longs to learn about music, even when Li snatches music from her and tells her that a nosoul can't understand about music. Finally, in her eighteenth birthday, Ana decides to go to Heart city. She yearns to learn about her origin. There has to be a reason why after five thousand years of the same souls being reincarnated, Ana has been born.

    Unfortunately, there are many pebbles stumped Ana along her journey to Heart. Chased by sylph and forced to jump from the reef to a lake in midwinter, she may as well die if she isn't saved by someone. Sam, her savior, doesn't seem to mind that Ana is a nosoul. He is the first person who treats Ana nicely. He is her friend, as bizarre as it sounds for Ana.

    Ana's plan was simple. Get rid from Li, learns about the reasons why she was born, and lives away from people in Heart. But when she meets Sam, her hidden feelings start to appear. Ana is not ready for a friend, let alone for anything beyond that. While five thousand years of living doesn't teach Sam how to not fall for a girl who might only live once in a lifetime...

    I admit that I put much expectation to this book, and I gladly tell you that this book doesn't fail me! The idea of reincarnation is very creative so it depends to the author to make it into a good book. The details are vivid and beautiful. I can easily picture Heart city in my mind. It isn't hard to feel how hopeful Ana when she finally reaches Heart and how excited she is to meet so many crowd after. I'm especially glad when she starts opening her heart to others and learns to trust people.

    Ana is a believable character with her cynical thoughts and quick mind. She's one of the most defensive characters I've ever read. Sam is also a great character, he seems very alive to me. He's cute and his kindness makes me melting inside out. I appreciate his concern to Ana's safety and how he always tries to protect Ana whatever happens.

    "What was that you played?" I edged closer. To the piano. To him.
    Same wide-set eyes, same shaggy black hair. Same hesitant smile. "It's yours," he said. "It's called whatever you want."

    I staggered back. So much for collecting myself. "Mine?"

    He took my shoulder, stopping me from crashing into something. "Didn't you hear?" he asked, searching me. "I used the notes you picked, things that remind me of you."

    Sam is an awesome character. He's not overly nice or annoyingly nonchalant, just simply kind and protective. Ana and Sam make a great couple, I enjoyed reading about them so much. Definitely a recommendation!

    Shivers crawled up my spine when he said my name. And what a name. When I'd gotten the nerve to ask Li why they chose that, she said it was part of an old word that meant "alone" or "empty." It was also part of Ciana's name, symbolizing what I'd taken from her. It meant I was a nosoul. A girl who fell in lakes and got rescued by Sam. by Hilda

  • Simply Awesome!5

    Keren Kiesslinger --Original Review at www.gothicangelbookreviews.blogspot.com---

    As soon as I saw this book, I was in love with the cover. When I looked at the blurb, I knew I needed to read INCARNATE. I was on edge for weeks knowing it was so close, yet so far.

    I ordered it and waited in anticipation for it to be delivered.

    It wasn't until about the 6th of February that I received it. At which point it had already been out for nearly a week and I was itching for it to hurry up.

    Thankfully, I had just become free to read it when it got here.


    I have to say, Jodi Meadows is one of my new favourite authors. I love the way she expertly crafted this story. It was something that had me hooked immediately and I had to read it every spare moment I got.

    It took me longer to read than I had hoped. I had my son's birthday on Saturday so I had a few hours where I could not pick it up. But after he had gone to bed, I managed to finish it off. Now I am just dying for the next book.

    I don't want to give too much of this story away, for obvious reasons. You need to sit and read it yourself. But let me warn you, make sure you have a few hours spare because you will NOT want to put it down.

    There were things about INCARNATE that had me laughing. Then there were those that had me crying. Whilst other things made me so mad I wanted to punch someone in the face.

    Ana is our main character and without telling you too much about her, I want to point out that I am amazed at the kind of person she became. She went through a lot and came out better than a lot of people would have done.

    Her mother, Li (though I hardly think she deserves the title 'mother') is an awful woman who reminds me of my own mother,

    Li thought very little of Ana, as she believes she took Ciana's place - Ciana should have been reincarnated and Ana should not exist. So when Ana decides to leave home and head for Heart, Li doesn't stop her. She gives her a compass and tells her to be on her way.

    Only the compass is broken - it's just a good job Ana realises this before she gets too lost.

    The struggles Ana goes through with Li are similar to struggles I had with my mother growing up, so I really empathise with her character. But I think that pretty much like myself, if it weren't for Li's awful ways, Ana may not have ended up the person she is today. It's our experiences in life that shape us for the future. So she may hate Li - and indeed she has every right - but that which does not break you makes you stronger.

    On the whole this story was unique, intriguing and has you turning pages quickly because you are on the edge of your seat wanting to know what happens next.

    The pace of the book itself, I would say it is fast-paced and full of exciting discoveries. Yet the pace of the world building and such is slow enough to give you the bigger picture.

    I found myself falling in love with the sweet Sam. The relationship between him and Ana - it wasn't a rushed 'girl meets boy and BAM they fall in love' - it was sweet and slow building. I thought Sam was an incredible character. There's more to that boy than meets the eye.

    There were some pretty great characters throughout this book. I liked a lot of them and hated a few of the others. Yet whether I liked or hated them, they were believable. What I mean to say is, it was as though they were real people. Not something an author creates, but someone you might come across in your everyday life.

    As if this wasn't all enough, there were dragons and sylph and other things to add to the excitement and adventure.

    So if you want something unique and refreshing, pick up INCARNATE. You won't be sorry you did. by Keren Kiesslinger

  • Likeable, But Not a Must-Read3

    Andrea Thompson Incarnate is the story of Ana, who depending on who you ask, is either a nosoul or a newsoul. In a world filled with souls who have been reincarnating for thousands of years, Ana is an anomaly. Burdened by anger and shame over her daughters soul status, Ana's mother, Li, raises Ana outside the city of Heart, the home of the souls. After enduring the first eighteen years of her life, emotionally and physically abused at the hands of her mother, Ana is ready to flee. To discover how and why she came to be. With the help of her rescuer and friend, Sam, the journey she undertakes will push her beyond greater highs and lows she could have ever imagined.

    I want to start by saying I am at a bit of a loss over writing this review. I wanted to love Incarnate, to be swept away and overrun by the emotions in the book. I went into this book with a completely open mind, open to the unique world and fascinating possibilities.

    But what happened was...I was a bit confused, and sometimes underwhelmed. I spent the first one hundred pages trying to get my bearings, to know exactly what was going on. I had questions. Where does this take place? Earth, another planet, an alternate dimension? When does it take place? The past, the future, an alternate parallel timeline? And the biggest question of all: Does it even matter (aka, why can't I just shut up and read)? With these questions swirling in my head, I had a hard time focusing on the story at hand.

    In addition to the questions I just posed, there were a few more things I had a difficult time wrapping my head around. The Souls have been around for 5,000 years! Let that sink in a minute...I spent a lot of time trying to fathom the amount of identities they possessed. One life you're a man, the next a woman, fat/thin, handsome/ugly...my head hurts. Add in the fact that if you have a "soul mate", in one life they may be born within a few years of you; the next life you may be the same age as their grandparents. Another factor that I didn't understand was the "Years". There were "Years of Song", "Years of Hunger", and several others. I didn't feel those were explained very well, so I wasn't able to follow along when they were discussed. In general, I felt the world-building in Incarnate was less than complete.

    The characters and their relationships to one another are what made Incarnate a likable read, for me. Ana was a brave, resilient, and clever girl. She was raised by a deliberately cruel mother who abused her at every turn. Ana was able to eke an existence out of the poor circumstances she held, and I admire her strength. The character I really fell in love with, though, was Sam. Sam saves Ana and instantly becomes her friend and protector with no hesitation or judgment. He is willing to go to the wall, take any chances to protect her. His gentle approach to Ana, who is as skittish as a wild, wounded animal made me fall in love with him. The fragile, slow-building relationship between Ana and Sam is what saved Incarnate for me.

    I wouldn't say that I didn't like Incarnate. In fact, there were moments that I downright loved it. But they were not enough to make this a must-read book, in my opinion. I had such high hopes for Incarnate and hope that a lot more about the world will be explained in book two.

    Favorite Quote:

    " 'So all our time in the cabin was nothing to you?'
    I remembered listening to him read aloud, telling him about the roses I brought back to life, and falling asleep leaning against his shoulder. 'It was everything,' I whispered, half hoping he didn't hear."
    ~pg 112-113 (ARC)

    * I received an ARC of Incarnate from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.* by Andrea Thompson

  • Incarnate by Jodi Meadows5

    Sarah A huge thank you to HarperCollins and NetGalley for allowing me to review this book.

    The cover is beautiful (I think everyone loves the cover) but the book matches the cover, it's just as beautiful. The story and the writing style was amazing!

    Everyone in Range is a reincarnate, except Ana, she's not supposed to exist. She took the place of Ciana when she died. To her abusive mother she's a nosoul.
    She leaves her abusive home to find the city of Heart, to find answers about herself, and how or why she's become.

    Along the way Ana meets, is saved by actually, a boy named Sam. At first Ana doesn't trust him, but she soon finds out that Sam is different than everyone else. Sam is sweet, kind and caring. There was no instinct love at first, it started as a friendship, then evolved into a sweet, natural romance.

    I loved Sam. Ana as well, it was hard not to like her. This book has everything fantasy, action and romance. Everything flowed easy, I got warped up in the story. I read this book within a day. I can't wait for more in the series. When is the next book in the series coming out? by Sarah

  • 4.5 STARS5

    SpadesHigh I've always been a skeptic about the conceptions of reincarnation. I have even had moments where I wondered if IT IS true, what would be the possibilities of being reincarnated into a person or an animal? And ironically, how it would also be awesome to remember your past lives and carry it on to the next. It would be a great way to never make the same mistake twice, right!

    Incarnate by Jodi Meadows is captivating, delightful, and will become an extension of your arm because you won't be able to put it down! I LOVED IT!!

    I was so wrapped up in the story that there was barely any moment where I let it go. The story is very unique and you don't often come across books that have reincarnation as its premise.
    The characters were easy to remember because each one played a distinctive role and stood out from each other. Some where very easy to fall in love with and befriend where others you just wanted to strangle or hoped to get chewed up by a dragon. When I say this, I'm hinting on Li whom I'm hating with a passion. =) Which goes to show how well Jodi's written words pulls the reader's emotions right into the story!
    The romance between Sam and Ana is a kismet that any girl would die for! I was swept off my feet right from the beginning and swooned over its progression. Hearts were a flutter when I got near the end. I'm still giddy way after I've finished reading it.
    The society and story-line are intriguing and I really want to know more, I'm hoping to get MORE! I'm really wishing that there will be a sequel. As for the ending, it made me a bit wary of Sam, but I think I'm just being cynical. hahaha
    I DEFINITELY RECOMMEND this beautiful 2012 debut!! YOU MUST READ 'INCARNATE' by Jodi Meadows!! by SpadesHigh

  • Unique Fantasy World!5

    Michelle Madow I loved Incarnate by Jodi Meadows! I wasn't sure what to expect going into this book -- all I knew was that reincarnation was involved, and in a way I'd never seen it before. It seemed like something I would like, and I was right. Jodi Meadows created a beautiful fantasy world, where for thousands of years, a million people have been reincarnated over and over again. I had lots of questions about why this happened, some that were answered in Incarnate, and some that were not. I'm excited to learn more about the mythology of the world as the series progresses.

    I loved the romance between the two main characters, Ana and Sam. From the summary it was clear that Ana was a new soul, meaning she was a teenager, and Sam has been reincarnated for thousands of years, meaning he's a lot older than her, so at first I was worried that their relationship might come across as wrong because of their age gap. Luckily this wasn't the case. The author made it clear that even though the souls are reincarnated, body chemistry and age also contribute to how a person acts and behaves. Also, Ana and Sam were so perfect together that their age gap was easy to overcome. Their relationship grew throughout the book, which I liked.

    Ana is a likable, relatable character who I found myself rooting for throughout the whole book. She's unsure of herself, but strong and determined at the same time. I'm excited to read more about her and the world Jodi Meadows created in the next book in the series. Also, there was a masquerade scene in this book, and it was done beautifully! So enchanting and magical. It was my favorite scene in the story. Incarnate is definitely a book I recommend picking up when it comes out in 2012. by Michelle Madow

  • Top review

    A magnificent book5

    annmarie ager Incarnate by Jodi Meadows
    In a world where each soul has lived a thousand lives, each soul knows each other. Everyone has many talents and life is like a never-ending circle once one body dies the soul is reborn into the next. The people fight dragons and protected them self from the shadow sylph.
    Ana is the only new soul her body was meant for another soul but Ana's soul new and fresh was born. People hate her from being new going against what they believe in. Ana has sent the last 18 years with a mother who does not love her and in truth she makes Ana's life hell, and her dad went and left them when she was a baby. Now an adult Ana plains to leave and head for heart, she hopes to find answers to why she is different. Why was she born what happened to the other soul she has so many questions that need answers but things go horrible wrong? Sylph's come for her the day she leaves and ends up nearly drowning when Sam saves her, and together they make it safely to heart but the place is not welcoming people fear and hate Ana before she can find the truth someone tries to kill her and Ana and Sam are left in danger.

    Ana is the main character the book follows in a world where everyone knows each other Ana really is the outcast the new un-useful soul. Now I really loved getting to know Ana she started off as a very guarded and untrusting character fearing that everyone hated her like her mother did. I felt that watching and learning how abusive her birth mother is to Ana helps you understand why Ana was the way she was. In a world where no one helped or saved Ana from this woman who got pleasure out of Ana's loneliness and upset. Over the course of the book, you watch Ana grow into a more powerful character, and you saw a whole new side of her that made her more loveable to the reader. Now Sam is another character you follow in the book and from the very first time I meet him. I could not help but love him. He showed Ana that people do care, and he was so kind and something I felt even though he lived some many times he was just as lost as any new soul.

    The world the book was based in was like nothing I had read before the concept was brilliant with all the old souls and then introducing a fresh new soul really did suck the reading in. Then, there was the bonus of these wonderful creatures like dragons and sylphs that added this dark dangerous feel to the outside of heart. There was conflicted between some characters and the council of heart seemed to care more about keeping secrets than the well-being of their people the whole story was fantastic. . It was a beautiful world that the author thought up, but she added lots of danger and darkness that readers will love!
    A magnificent start to a new series. by annmarie ager

  • Mesmerizing and enthralling5

    Alaiel Kreuz First of all, let me clarify something: I'm giving this book 5 cheeses but, if I could I would put six or seven. That's how amazing it was.
    And I'm afraid I won't be able to write coherent things in this review and that the only thing you are going to keep reading in every single line is that I LOVED this book.

    But I promise I'm trying to take deep breaths to calm myself down.
    I think it's working. Now I have to put order in my head (to many things I want to say, sorry).

    Facts:
    - Since I discovered how to highlight quotes in my readers I've been doing so a lot. But with this book I didn't highlight quotes, at all, I kept highlighting paragraphs, PAGES. Really. I was completely amazed too, they are 94 highlights in total!
    - I started with Incarnate at 10:00pm and I went to sleep at 8:00am (after my hubby left). I had already finished the book at 6:00am but I couldn't stop myself, I needed to re-read the quotes, paragraphs and pages I had marked.
    - I even had a dream about the book.
    - I should be writing 3 reviews before this one but I had to share this book with you all.
    - Jodi Meadow is now in my list of Amazing-Wonderful-Incredible Authors.
    - Incarnate, the hardcover edition, will have a special place in my bookshelf.
    - I can't believe I have to wait until 2013 for the next book. That's just wrong...

    Proper review:
    Everybody was expecting Ciana to be born. That how things worked: once you died you were reborn again, over and over again. No surprises, no new souls, everybody knew that after a lifetime they would gain another one remembering everything that had happened before (and if they couldn't remember something they had the diaries they always wrote).
    Things had been like this for the last five thousand years.
    That's why when Li gave birth to a baby no one could recognize their perfect world crumbled. Menehem, Li's husband, left the city ashamed of himself and Li had to take care of Ana, the new baby, the nosoul, even if she didn't want to.

    And Ana always knew, thanks to Li, that her life was a mistake and that no one would ever love her. Li even assured her that she could never love because how could a nosoul feel love?! But she was wrong and Ana knew, deep down, that she loved music (she had once sneaked and listened to music. It had cost her Li's rage but it was worth it). Her favorite musician? Dossam, who could make her feel emotions she didn't even understand

    As soon as Ana reached eighteen she left Li behind and marched to Heart, the city that held, hopefully, all the answers she sought.
    But her trip to Heart almost cost her everything when sylphs cornered her: she coud die a horrible death with fire and pain with the sylphs or jump to the river and die of hypothermia.
    She chose hypothermia (who wouldn't?!).

    It was then that Sam saved her. A stranger that didn't look at her with disgust, a stranger that decided to help her get to Heart, a stranger that introduced her to new people who liked her. He shared his roof with her and always reassured her that she was a newsoul, not a nosoul.

    But things in Heart weren't easy for her, of course. How could they be? A lot of the population blamed her for Ciana's death and were afraid that more "nosouls" would be born and replace some of them in the process.
    And to make matters worst Li was back in town and the Council was considering gave Ana's custody to her again...

    Personal opinion:
    The way Jodi writes is mesmerizing, you won't be able to put the book down. The words will flow from the pages to your head and create the whole story for your eyes to see. When Ana struggled I struggled, when she discovered new things I discovered new things with her. Her feelings were one with mine and it felt incredibly good.

    The way Sam and Ana's relationship develops is just perfect. No rushing at all, just what she needed and what he could give her in every step they took. I valued their friendship like a treasure and I'm sure you will feel the same.

    The ending is just great, everything happens fast but well explained and the plot reaches the point where you feel at ease when your eyes read the last sentence.

    Now, as I said, the next book comes out in 2013 but if it's any consolation this book doesn't leave you in a cliffhanger that could make you cry, it leaves the story in a good point making sure that you will want to read the next one. by Alaiel Kreuz

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