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Wednesday, May 1, 2013

NICOLE'S REVIEW: Crux by Julie Reece

Title: Crux
Author: Julie Reece
Format Acquired: Paperback
Publication Date: July 9, 2012
Publishing House: J. Taylor Publishing
ISBN: 9781937744069
Source of Copy: Purchased from Amazon

Summary:

She should have run. Now, she'll have to fight.

Eighteen year old Birdie may be homeless, but she's surviving, that is until a mysterious guy throws money in the air like a crazy game show host and she grabs some money with the idea she'll be able to buy dinner that night.

In that singular moment, unassuming Birdie becomes the girl in everyone's viewfinder. Thugs want to kill her. Money-guy wants to recruit her. The very hot, very rich and very out of her league Grey Mathews wants to save her.

Birdie though, wants nothing to do with any of them until she realizes fate didn't bring them all together.

Her heritage did.

Now with only twenty-one days left, she's got to decide whether to follow in the footsteps of those before her or risk her life for people she's only just met.


(Image and information courtesy of Goodreads; Summary lifted from actual book)

Review:

I don't why I was under the assumption that this book was a dystopian. I really don't know why I thought that because this book is in no way a dystopian.

Birdie is homeless, struggling to survive and wondering where to get her next meal until one night she follows a strange man blathering nonsense who then proceeds to throw away wads of cash. Of course Birdie's not going to miss out on the chance to grab a few bills. But that night, the man also gives her something else - a key to a safe that leads to a pendant that will change Birdie's life forever.

Birdie is a likable character, she's strong and independent. She has to be since she's on her own. She's had it hard, bouncing from one foster home to the next and so it's not surprising that she has trust issues. Then she meets Grey. I don't know but I actually liked how Birdie met Grey - she was being chased by three guys so she gate crashed his family's dinner, he helped her get away and the rest, as they say, is history. But truthfully speaking I wasn't exactly sold on Birdie and Grey's whole relationship. I mean sure the girl's a mystery to you and she does clean up pretty well but how in the world is the guy not wary of Birdie or vice versa? I understand Grey wanting to be friends with Birdie but wanting something more from her after a few days? I mean they're cute and all and I like them together but that's how I imagined them to be after actually getting to know each other. But despite the rushed relationship I thought they were adorable.

Crux involves Vikings, time travel and a big battle where people obviously get killed and then die. Thing is, Birdie's got a huge role in said battle because she has to destroy an amulet passed down from one generation to another thanks to a greedy king who initiated the whole curse. Grey obviously gets dragged into the mess and the two end up fighting and training side by side. The whole time travel part is Birdie having to go back in time to the specific time and place where the battle occurred and end things once and for all. Note that all previous holders of the amulet had to go through with that process too and they ALL failed. Fancy that. Although Crux has it's own fair share of flaws but they're all fairly easy to ignore.

Another thing I noticed about Crux is how Birdie's newly acquired friends react to her having super powers - thanks to the amulet of course. They act like it's a normal everyday occurrence and super powers are nothing new. I thought that there should have been a you're-totally-crazy-and-this-is-some-lame-joke moment but I guess not. Birdie's lucky to have such accepting friends. 

Also can I just mention that I think Fenris - Birdie's dog or wolf, rather - is totally adorable? I wouldn't mind having a dog like that even if I'm a self-proclaimed cat person. 

So anyway, Crux was a fun read. Vikings, wolf-dogs and crazy cursed amulets? Cute, fluffy romance, war and time travel too. If you're fans of all that, then by all means, pick Crux up and take it for a spin.




Rating:
                        

2 comments:

  1. I'm really intrigued by this book, especially since it's fantasy! :)

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    Replies
    1. You should give it a try! :) Thank you for dropping by!

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