Adventures in Ink (Reviews): Untethered Review, Excerpt & Giveaway

Untethered
Katie Hayoz

Genre: YA Paranormal
Release Date: April 3, 2013

ISBN: 978-0988997479
ASIN: B00C7A8YW2

Pages: 350
Word Count: 85,000

Goodreads Rating: 4.40
My Rating: 4.5/5

Book Description:

Sixteen-year-old Sylvie isn’t comfortable in her own skin. In fact, there are times she can’t even manage to stay inside it. But if there is one thing she’s sure of, it’s her love for Kevin Phillips. She’s willing to stake everything on it –her family, her friends, and possibly her soul.

Sylvie has been best friends with Cassie forever. But everything is turned around when the boy Sylvie’s loved since fifth grade falls for Cassie. Devastated, Sylvie intends to get Kevin by any means possible, even if it involves treachery, deceit, and the dark side of astral projection. She is positive her plans will give her what she wants, but she doesn't count on it all spiraling out of control.

Finalist in the Mslexia novel competition, Untethered by Katie Hayoz explores the intoxicating and dangerous world of jealousy and obsession when coupled with paranormal ability. It is a touching, sometimes funny, sometimes heart-breaking novel that speaks to the self-doubt lurking in us all.

Amazon Paperback on Amazon Amazon.uk

My Take On The Book:

Ok so this one isn't exactly a 5 star book but it is way too good to be a 4.5. There has got to be a better in-between option for these types of books. What more can I say except this book was/is great.

I was a little hesitant to read this when I first read the synopsis but selfishly I’ll admit it had more to do with the best friend/long time crush deal. I don’t know why most books and movies I've seen/read lately have that same prominent heart wrenching theme. But that’s not really the point, or at least it isn't yet lol.

The Great (Pros):

Nelson. Whoa, a blue haired artistic hottie. Can you say swoon ::sigh:: <3

Sylvie. Honestly, she seemed worse in the description and I didn't think I would like her… but I did. She’s actually a really relatable and likable character. I’m sure everyone at some point in their life has wanted to be someone else. Sylvie just happened to take that want a tad too far, OK A LOT too far but in her defense she was coerced. She’s human and that’s exactly what I liked about her most. She had moments of complete and utter dumb-fuckery (pardon my language) but she’s a teen who gets picked on regularly and astral project without the ability to control it so those moments are pretty understandable.

Astral Projection. I read a book years ago (like maybe 6 or 7 years ago) about a girl who astral projects and her body gets taken over by what I believe was a long lost relative. I can’t remember too much, like I said it’s been years but I think the book was Stranger with My Face by Lois Duncan. Anyway the point it, that I know I thoroughly enjoyed that book and this book reminded me of it. I really enjoyed the whole concept of astral projecting and the scariness that someone can inhabit your body and you have basically no control over it.

Writing Style. I loved the chapter break ups and the way we saw the future and were thrown back into the present. Some parts of it were very predictable but not enough to take away from the story. It was well edited and I was able to immerse myself into the story and picture almost everything that was described.

Sam and the whole family dynamic. I loved the whole family, broken and all. They genuinely care for each other and it shows. It gives you the warm and fuzzies even in the worst of times.

The Not So Great (Cons):

Kevin. I’m not sure why, maybe it was my love for Nelson but I severely disliked Kevin. He seemed way too fake.

Casey. As much as I wanted to like her, I couldn't It’s not just that she went out with Kevin, it’s not just how mean she really gets with Sylvie but it’s the lies. Sylvie asks her very directly a few things and she outright lies. That is not best friend behavior. She was not a sympathetic character and I didn't want Sylvie doing certain things but not because I felt bad for Casey. Sure she had some endearing qualities but they did not out weight her bad.

Casey and Sylvie Friendship. It just didn't feel real. If anything, it seems as if it was more of a comfort thing then an actual friendship. As I said before, friends don’t do what these girls do or try to do to each other.

4.5 Quills

If you enjoyed ‘The Wake Trilogy’ by Lisa McMann then this is definitely the book for you. It’s got the teen angst, the sweetness and cuteness of young love, the darkness of the paranormal and jealousy and it’s haunting, utterly haunting from the cover to the last page. It’s an absolutely great book and an excellent read. Kudos to author Katie Hayoz for creating such an eerie and tangible world.

Untethered Excerpt by Katie Hayoz

October 28^th

I’m stuck in this body. And I can’t get out.

I stare at my arms. These arms. They’re not mine, but I’m wearing them. They’re thick and muscular and covered in hair. The veins run like rope down the insides.

I squeeze my eyes shut for the hundredth time, hoping that when I open them, I’ll look down and see my own thin arms. My own delicate veins.

I don’t.

Oh, God, do I need help. I need help. Now.

I stand and my head spins. Grabbing onto the desk, I wait for the dizziness to pass. Wait for my head to clear. It doesn’t happen.

I look from the desk to the bed to the floor to the walls and see where I am. Clarity won’t come. Can’t come. Because I’m not where I’m supposed to be.

My eyes travel to the mirror and the face staring back in terror. “Please,” I say. The face says it back, but sloppily. Like a drunk. “Please,” I beg again. “Where are you?” This time the words feel formed. This time my lips, his lips, work the way I expect them to. Or close to it.

But there’s no response.

I lift a hand. Take a step. My movements are staccato. Jerky. Clumsy. Like electrodes are flexing these muscles. Not me. Everything about this body is heavy and long. I take another step forward and it’s smoother, but I’m not used to the bulk of this body.

And I don’t want to get used to it.

I want out. Of him. Of here.

About The Author

Katie Hayoz was born in Racine, WI, the youngest of six kids. Originally, she wanted to become pope (for the awesome hat and fancy robes), but quickly realized reading was her true religion. Writing was always a hobby, but she decided to go at it seriously when she ended up in Geneva, Switzerland. Now she's constantly at her laptop in the small apartment she shares with her husband, two daughters, and two fuzzy cats. She devours YA novels like she does popcorn and black licorice: quickly and in large quantities.