Becoming: Daughters of Saraqael Trilogy (Book One)

Highly Recommend this book!

When it comes to Young Adult Fantasy, it really doesn't get better than Becoming. To say that I was blown away would be an understatement. I wasn't just blown away, I was swept away. I loved everything about Becoming. It was charming, fresh, innovative. World-building at it's finest. Truly, a beautifully crafted story with lovely characters, settings, raw emotion and a powerful message. In this book, love truly does conquer all. And I'm not only talking about romantic love, but love for one's self and for our fellow man. There is an underlying theme in this book that without respect, love and understanding, you really can't go anywhere in life. And I really loved it! The romance in this story was incredibly refreshing. There are no love triangles. No instantaneous love. The love shared between the main characters, Amber and Gabriel, is a love that is nurtured overtime, grown out of mutual respect and admiration. They are friends first and fall in love later. The only hurdles in this love story are the personal insecurities and doubts of each character rooted in their complex backgrounds. The love in this story felt very real and it was very sweet. Amber -who is the female lead in this book- is a very strong young woman, who is unassuming and very funny. Her main struggle being her general distrust of others due to not having a stable home for most of her childhood and being moved across several foster care homes for most of her life. Gabriel, the male lead in this book, is more of a gentle spirit, strong but more comfortable around others. He is a true gentleman and really is the perfect balance to Amber's more distant nature. I loved that Amber and Gabriel felt very real, the dialogue for both of these characters was incredibly believable and truly authentic to how people sound like in their late teens. When it comes to world-building, I thought that Becoming shined. Why? because it was really creative, intelligent, and complex. In Becoming instead of having angels, fairies, vampires, or wolves, we have a new type of being introduced to us. They are called The Estilorians. In this book, the humans are not aware of their existence; even though at some point in time, humans and Estilorians shared the world. The difference between the two being that Estilorians have a slight different appearance, special powers and react different to emotion while humans don't have any special powers and are more emotional beings. But above all, my favorite part of Becoming is it's study on emotion. Each character in the book has a very particular personality and struggle. Whether it is being too distrusting, too logical or too fearful and when you add the lack of emotion that characterize the Estilorians you have yourself a quite fascinating read on how the lack or excess of emotion can affect any culture (human or not). My advice: Read this book. It has everything you want in a Young Adult fantasy/romance novel. It is packed with adventure, love, creativity, insight, and humour. Becoming is truly captivating from start to finish. My rating: 5/5

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Amazing!

The reviews I have seen for this book range from addictive to alluring. This is an understatement.

The writing has a lyrical quality, with the feel I received when first breaking open another of my most fav series Twilight! That same poetic tone resides in the pages of this tale.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Wonderful story, fulfilled with action, love and discovery of

Wonderful story, fulfilled with action, love and discovery of a new world! I'm in love with the love story between Amber and Gabriel! I don't know why I didn't read this book sooner! It's was an easy read and the storyline had something new and refreshing!

Amber always lived in a foster family. But Amber had something special into her, every three years, something is happening to her and the author, Raine Thomas, couldn't explained with a better word than using the word explode!

So, each foster family where Amber is involve, she'll experiment an unwilling «explosion» and be transferred to another family until she's transferred with Ms. B. Amber will live with Gabriel, another foster child, and will get along with him: best friend and maybe more?


One thing for sure, the way the author described the establishment of the relationship between Amber and Gabriel, twitched something deep inside of me. The way it's written, the choice of word, the action, feelings around that specific situation, makes me want to read more. I wanted to be Amber, taking her place and be the one to be holding and see by the handsome Gabriel! In fact, I was more into the relation than to find out what's truly happening to Amber. Reading about the fact that the main character is actually able to explode, isn't really common! Oh well, Ms. Thomas got some written skills when we need love/action/plot/ scene to be described. The imagination and creativity is overwhelming!

I adored the way the author had keep me hanging on to learn more about the supernatural, unwanted and weirdo power that Amber have within her, but also to learn about the whole history around it. I don't want to reveal everything, but this story is one of my favourite of 2012, even if it's been published last year (shame on me, for waiting so long before reading it!). Cruel world to have to choose what to read, with so many great books and so many awesome authors!

Thanks Raine for giving me the chance to know and appreciated your work!

I really recommend this book to every YA Fantasy lovers!!! Also, check for the entire series and the new to-come series: Defy: big eyes open! O.O

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Amber shies away from people and from being the center of attent

Amber shies away from people and from being the center of attention. She just doesn't have the self-confidence it takes to be one of those people who love attention....any attention. I guess if every 3 years you have an "Incident" that gets you shipped off to the next foster home, it’s understandable then.
Amber has only one person who knows about these "Incidents" after helping her through one at age 15. He is her best friend and her foster brother. But don't let Gabriel catch you calling her that, she is more to him than his 'sister'. And he is just waiting for Amber to show how much more she means to him.

After her latest surge right before her 18th birthday Amber and Gabriel embark on a new relationship and everything just feels...right! Off to see Alaska, the new couple have a run in with some new people. What these people reveal changes everything for them. They learn who they are and where they are headed. But sometimes change could mean the end. Will Amber and Gabriel be able to hold on to this new love or will they be torn apart?

I am usually not a huge fan of giving some stuff away in my reviews. But since I didn't say any more than what the author did in her blurb, I don't feel so bad. Cause really...what happens in-between all that is the good stuff. There is more to Amber's power surges and her new relationship with Gabriel, lots more.

I was so flippin in love with this book, the characters (namely Gabriel, le sigh), and the overall story line. Yeah that storyline was ahhhmazing! I love how it starts out Amber’s story but soon more character’s stories are added to it. And I like that because it helps the transition to the next book, Central, which is based off a different character.

Raine what have you done to me? I am now hooked on this series, absolutely addicted! I am so looking forward to reading more from you. Awesome book, awesome writing, awesome author!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Incredibly Addicting! Absolutely Fantastic!

I was lucky to have the chance to read the first 3 chapters of Becoming before it was released (Thanks Raine!) and I was instantly hooked. I had to know what happened. I have been anxiously awaiting the release. The world of the Estilorians is a world unlike any other. I have never read anything like this. From the very beginning my heart was pounding. Amber is a young woman that is easy to relate to and root for. I immediately liked her and felt her feelings of loss, excitement, fear, doubt, joy and more. The life she has lived has been one of extreme loss and hardship. Her sarcastic humor and snarky attitude are tools she uses to protect herself. Her journey in Becoming is nothing short of remarkable. Gabriel is the type of guy that we all should be so lucky to have in our lives. His attention and love for Amber is endearing and sweet. I cannot imagine one without the other. Raine Thomas has the incredible ability to paint this new world into our minds with the written word. I could see and feel it all. It is simply beautiful. As I type this I am longing to read Central, so I will close. I am so grateful that I have been able to "meet" Raine and be introduced to the Estilorians. I absolutely loved every word. Read Becoming for yourself and be prepared to enter a fantasy you've never even dreamed of. Side note: I really want my own Gloresti *swoon*

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Dragged Out Plot Review brought to you by OBS staff member Anna

Dragged Out Plot

Review brought to you by OBS staff member Annabell

I have read many books by Indie authors and many of them either follow the same exact plot-line of so many books I have read before or fill their books with so many clichés you can’t stop rolling your eyes the whole way through the read. Becoming falls somewhere between the two but also manages to distinct itself enough to make it different.

There are some strong elements to the book. One of my favorites was the relationship between Amber and Gabriel. I liked that their relationship was built on a friendship that expanded for six years before they chose to finally confess their feelings to each other. They have such an intimate and loving bond. They understand each other very well and are fiercely protective of one another. Their love was very well-developed and a reader can easily connect with their romance...

The biggest issue with the book was the plot. The author chose to showcase every miniscule detail of what the characters thought, what they were wearing and how they felt. The book was dragged down by details that, as a reader, I just didn’t care about knowing. I would skim over pages until the pacing of the book would pick up again. The main problem of the plot is the fact that nothing substantial really happens until the book is a hundred or so pages from being finished. Once the action kicks in, the pacing slows again and takes a bit to pick back up again but then ends quite quickly.

Another aspect of the book that didn’t work so well was the relationship between Amber and Gabriel. Yes, the romance I did enjoy but only to a certain point then I started to become tired of how often they were throwing “goo-goo” eyes at each other and kissing. The majority of the book is made up of Amber and Gabriel declaring how much they love each other and kissing. There were moments that were thoroughly sweet and beautiful but at times their declarations of love become too much. The few parts the so called villain came into focus and the book was narrated from his point of view, acted more as a way for the author to fill a gap in the plot than acting as any actual use to progressing the story. The villain reminded me of a bad B-movie than the evil-crazy scheming-villain a reader would expect. There needed to be more depth to his character...

Overall, I enjoyed Becoming. There were many moments where I was able to connect to the characters and beautiful moments between Amber and Gabriel. I also did enjoy the few action scenes that were present in the plot. I hope there is more dimension to the plot, the villain and behind Amber and Gabriel in the next two books to the trilogy. I am excited to see how the author progresses in her writing style and how Amber and Gabriel’s story develops!

The Full review and more at openbooksociety dot com

Becoming is one of those books that you sit down to read a few p

Becoming is one of those books that you sit down to read a few pages of and next thing you know, you're looking up at the clock and an hour has somehow passed you by! I honestly adored this book from start to finish and my only regret is that I didn't read it sooner. Becoming first caught my eye a while back because of its lovely cover. Once I read the description, I knew this was a book that I could not miss out on. Power surges? Alternate planes? I just had to know how it was all going to play out.

I loved pretty much everything about this book. From page one, the reader is thrown into an absolutely fascinating story. We get to know the two protagonists, Amber and Gabriel and see the close but complex friendship they have. Amber hasn't had an easy life; all her foster placements didn't end well through no fault of her own, but this doesn't stop Amber from being a kindhearted and selfless character who you can't help but adore.

There is certainly a lot of tension from the very beginning of this book. Amber and Gabriel are constantly living in fear of Amber having one of her ''surges'' and the possible consequences of that. Amber never really gets to relax and just enjoy her life because she never knows what's ahead of her or how dangerous it is! When Amber and Gabriel find out that there are others like her out there, they are quite willing to believe it because they had already seen the impossible happen several times.

My favourite part was when we found out about the Estilorians and their story. It was just so intriguing and I couldn't tear my eyes away from the page. I love how Amber found out so many secrets about her own past and faced it with courage and a level-head! Gabriel and Amber are really forced to grow up pretty fast in this book but their relationship is sweet, even if it all gets a bit cheesy at times!

I also really loved the characters names in this book. They were just fun to look at and added a unique aspect to this book! If you haven't already figured it out, I thoroughly enjoyed Becoming and will be getting to the rest of the series in the coming weeks so look out for those review. I'll also be reviewing Defy next week for the blog tour, which is based on the same world but is a separate series!

Worth the read!

I really enjoyed this book. It was hard to put this down.

A new world the will pull you in! Highly Recommended!!

The book starts out with a little action and then you are introduced to Amber, one of the sisters and main character. Amber has been in many foster homes, which seems to happen about every three years, though that reason is explained throughout the book. Amber likes to fly under the radar and hates to stand out, but when her guardian (Mrs. B), the longest one she has had, tells her that she is taking her for a haircut as her graduation present, she can't say no and risk hurting the closest thing she has had to a mother.

The seemingly simple haircut sparks a change in a relationship with her best friend. I immediately fell for the story between Amber and Gabriel, though I knew it couldn't be simple. While on her long awaited graduation trip to Alaska, Amber discovers that she has sisters. The seemingly strange story of her heritage helps bring a dream she has been having into perspective.

Meeting the sisters and seeing their story unfold pulled me along as I wanted to see how things would turn out for them. There is action in pieces throughout the book leading up to a larger sequence. I really enjoyed the characters and how they interacted and handled some of the surprises along the way. I do wish there was more description about what the new plane looked like, but I feel this will be developed more in the other books since they take place in the Estilorian plane. There is just enough of the antagonist in the book to spark interest, knowing that this was not the last time we will hear about these characters.

If you are looking for a book with characters that are interesting, with a little mythology and angles thrown in, then I think you will enjoy this book. I had a hard time putting this book down, as my "just one more chapter" would turn into reading 5-10 more chapters. Becoming is the first in a trilogy that I can't wait to finish.

Becoming

I have to say to start out, that I normally have a huge aversion to young adult fiction that is labeled to have a romance in it. My brain sort of has a mini seizure and I walk away going, no!

However, something drew me to this new book series. I found out about it following the author via twitter, followed the link to her website, read the synopsis to book one, and instantly I was sold.

No vampires, no werewolves, it was a totally new and fresh idea for my brain to savor and lap at slowly, and savor and then devour it did!

The beginning of the book opened a secret door into this new world featuring the Estilorians, a race that used to exist parallel to humans. Till of course humans fearing that which was different repelled the race. We enter this series with Amber and Gabriel as our books leads. Instantly I took a liking to our teenage heroine, she was moody and standoffish without being overwhelming. We see so many authors take this over the top. Gabriel is her best friend and of course they both secretly pine for one another.

It was expertly written out. There was no eye rolling, it was subtle, and easy the romance between these two. I could see it all in my head and it was making me smile. I was soon falling in love with the two leads.

The story develops on a slowly rising roller coaster that gives us little glimpses into the villain of this series. I found myself, of course far too curious about the villain (I have a thing for alpha males) and he of course had that alpha personna leaking from the page. However, as the story takes off and they enter the Estilorian plain I come to find a whole lot of alpha!

It was a book that captured my attention from the very beginning and by the end when the action and some trouble goes down I was weeping for Amber and Gabriel. I can only describe it as magic to read. So few young adult books give us something different and unique to enjoy. I enjoyed this one as much as some of my favorite adult fantasy series. Bless Raine Thomas for releasing all the books at the same time; I might have burst if I have to wait. I'm going to burst once I finish this series and have to wait for her next one!

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