There are some books that you pick up and put down just as easily. They have caught your attention, but only enough to amount to short reading spurts here and there. Then there are some books that you pick up and enjoy a lot, find yourself taking a slightly longer lunch break just to finish the page or the chapter. Or maybe squeeze in an extra few minutes of night time reading just to see what happened. These books are good, you get through them, but they may not stick in your mind, like others do, like the book I read the other day.
I was given this book by a fellow Author, had read the blurb and loved the cover. I honestly thought it would just be another book like so many out there these days. But I was quite surprised. Lynn Rush’s debut novel Wasteland puts a great twist on the age old tale of angels and demons. One that had me turning page after page, reading during meals, smoke breaks (FYI smoking is so not cool, so don’t do it) and well I stayed up just so I could finish it because it was just that good.
So here’s the blurb and below the review J
Bound by the blood contract his human mother signed four centuries ago, half-demon, David Sadler, must obey his demonic Master's order to capture fifteen-year-old Jessica Hanks. But as he learns more about her, he realizes she may be the key to freedom from his dark enslavement.
The only obstacle-Jessica's distractingly beautiful Guardian, Rebeka Abbott. He must not give in to their steamy chemistry, or he will lose his humanity. But fresh off a quarter millennia of sensory deprivation as punishment for not retrieving his last target, he may not be able to resist temptation long enough to save what's left of his human soul.—Quoted from Goodreads
Sounds good doesn’t it? Yeah? Well trust me the book is better than the blurb above. Remember you usually only get 150-250 words for a book blurb so it’s hard to cram in all the awesome stuff going on in the book into it such a small amount of words.
David Sadler is half demon-half human but 100% hot. He’s been forced to carry out the whims of his master, because his mother signed away his soul before he was even born. Right away I felt sorry for him because his choice between good and evil was taken away. But David is a survivor. Even though he’s spent centuries doing what’s been forced upon him he’s never really given up hope. David continues to search for a way to extract the demon from him, allowing him to be what he truly wants to become, human.
But with a demon caged inside of him, begging for release David experiences a touch of that darkness every time he gets angry, fights, or as unfortunate luck would have it, stares down a beautiful woman.
Enter, Beka Abbot. She’s more than just a pretty girl in a skimpy dress. She’s caught David’s attention. But even she can’t deny her growing attraction for the mysterious, old spoken and good looking David. Though her job might be the reason they can never be together. She’s a Guardian and has been sent to protect the very thing David thinks might be the key to his humanity, a girl, Jessica Hanks. But that girl is David’s most recent contract, and it’s his job to take her to the dark side and to his master.
Wasteland is a rollercoaster of ups and downs. Just when you think all is well, another plot point comes out rearing its ugly head, forcing David and Beka into what seems like more of an impossible situation than the last. Even when it comes to something as simple as love David and Beka are constantly tormented and thrown in different directions. It’s enough to have you fascinated, engrossed and begging for a happy ending. However, it’s not just a love story, not in the least, there are gripping action and fight sequences, a list of supporting characters that add so much, and what novel wouldn’t be complete without a sadistic, cruel, power-seeking Villian?
In my opinion this one truly does have it all. Wasteland makes for a captivating story that can be enjoyed by the masses and one that, man I wish I could watch on the big screen. So, if any big shot movie producers are reading this... Wasteland would be a box office hit, for sure!
Now because I believe a review is more than just telling you how great (or bad) a novel is and because I don’t want the world to think I’m biased because Lynn Rush is a fellow Crescent Moon Press Author, there are a few things both good and bad that caught my attention aside from the story line itself.
The first thing is that this is written from David Sadler’s POV. Not very often do you get male POV’s, at least not in the Young Adult/ New Adult categories. So a pat on the back to Lynn for taking on this, in my opinion, difficult task.
Next were the first few pages. Ms. Rush can string together prose after prose that have you feeling like you are standing right in the middle of it all. She lays everything out so that you know exactly what things look like, feel like and smell like. You can close your eyes and sway to the music eminating from the dance club in the first scene or feel the solitude and agony of what it was like for David in Solitary, in later chapters.
But with great description full of catchy words comes the daunting task of finding new and unique ways to word sentences. This is where Lynn’s writing lacked, slightly, and only because this is a pet peeve of mine. David’s senses were constantly assaulted. I lost count after five mentions of this, in the first 10 chapters. Tsk, tsk, Lynn lol. Also, the over description of a few things ran a little dry for me in later chapters, because I don’t like spoilers I won’t go further, but sometimes too much description and over use of the same thoughts and phrases becomes too much when you are begging for the novel to progress because when you overlook these mild annoyances the overall book was excellent.
And that, as they say is that! Wasteland is a must read in my opinion and because this is only Lynn Rush’s first novel, well I can bet we will see a lot more from her or at the very least we better get to see David Sadler again *wink*
Now, just because Lynn is such a great Author, she’s decided to come to my blog. So please, come back on September 29th, join us for an interview to learn more about Lynn and Wasteland. And because giveaways are just awesome-sauce, Lynn will be giving away one E-Copy of Wasteland to one lucky commenter! So mark it on your calendars ladies and gents, a super awesome interview and giveaway, September 29th, 2011!
24 September 2011 at 10:27
Thanks, AVERY!!! I'm so happy you liked Wasteland!!! :)
24 September 2011 at 11:28
Excellent review of the book! I will be back to read your interview with Lynn! :)
Your blog is very pretty!!
24 September 2011 at 11:56
Thanks Lynn I'm glad you liked the review!
Dranea, yes we would love to see you back to check out the interview! Also, don't forget on September 29th to enter to win a free E-Copy of Wasteland!
24 September 2011 at 12:01
great review! Can't wait to pick it up :-).
24 September 2011 at 12:04
Prerna Pickett, I hope to see you back here on the 29th as we are giving away a FREE e-copy of Wasteland!
Thanks for stopping by!
24 September 2011 at 12:19
Good review! I enjoyed the book as well! And I agree about all the ups and downs. Just when you think it's all good, a new surprise (usually unwanted) happens leading the characters to have to figure it out. But loved it!
24 September 2011 at 18:15
Thanks, Avery, but I have a copy of this already. I can't wait to read this, so I will make sure some other lucky person gets a copy of it!! :)