Serena recs YA: 'Tandem,' 'Paige Rewritten,' 'Tainted'
Teen and adult readers of YA and NA romance, speculative fiction and modern takes on classic literature will all find something worth sinking their reading teeth into with these three new and recommended titles.
Tandem (The Many Worlds Trilogy, Book 1) by Anna Jarzab
What it's about (courtesy of publisher Delacorte Press):
Fans of Matched, Across the Universe and The Hunger Games will love this captivating tale of rebellion and romance that spans parallel worlds.
Everything repeats.
You. Your best friend. Every person you know.
Many worlds, many lives — infinite possibilities.
Welcome to the multiverse.
Sixteen-year-old Sasha Lawson has only ever known one small, ordinary life. When she was young, she loved her grandfather's stories of parallel worlds, inhabited by girls who looked like her but led totally different lives. Sasha never believed such worlds were real—until now, when she finds herself thrust into one against her will.
To prevent imminent war, Sasha must slip into the life of an alternate version of herself, a princess who has vanished on the eve of her arranged marriage. If Sasha succeeds in fooling everyone, she will be returned home; if she fails, she'll be trapped in another girl's life forever. As time runs out, Sasha finds herself torn between two worlds, two lives, and two young men vying for her love—one who knows her secret, and one who believes she's someone she's not.
Why you should read it: Wow! I was a little frightened by the book's introduction, in which the editor mentioned things like theoretical physics as a part of the plot, but DANG. When I entered the story, I seriously entered the story. In no time at all, I was, like Sasha, trapped in another world. (Er, worlds — plural — I should say!)
The way Jarzab weaves characters' lives in between each other and in and out of worlds is brilliant. The author hits on so many of my happy buttons with this tale: fairy-tale romance (there's a king, two queens, a princess … and a handsome prince!). And there is also a hot, strong warrior with a sensitive side, a wacky scientist or two, a Shakespeare-loving heroine, a couple of really strong villain types, war, dystopia, castles, skyscrapers, revolutionaries, arranged marriages, some kissing (with both the prince and the warrior boy! Oh, my!) … and then she slaps me upside the imagination with theoretical physics? Yes. Yes, she does … but in a way that even I can grasp.
Holy Awesome Premise, Batman! I am so in love with this book! You had better believe I am going to be first in line when the sequel releases next summer. Grab it!
Paige Rewritten by Erynn Mangum
What it's about (courtesy of publisher NavPress):
Paige Alder is in a really good place. She's dating nice guy Tyler. Her boss has offered her a raise. Her walk with God is strong. Life is great — and that's when things start to change.
First, the youth pastor at church keeps asking Paige to work with him full time. Then her sister shows up newly engaged and wanting to reconnect, even though they haven't spoken in years. And now former boyfriend Luke has come back into her life. How is Paige supposed to know what the right decisions are?
This warm and humorous second book in the Paige Alder series will help young girls work through important issues, such as forgiving others and obeying God.
Why you should read it: Oh, sweetness! I love the Paige Alder novels because Paige is just so doggone relatable. Her most troubling "skeletons in the closet" are the ones she has carefully fashioned to look like virtues instead of vices, but even though the story imparts some really good lessons in truth vs. hypocrisy, her voice never becomes preachy or loses its believability or charm.
After struggling to let go of her do-gooder, overcommitting tendencies in book one, our "good girl" Paige is now facing some new and bigger challenges than even her day planner could provide. In this second book of the series, Paige is less scattered, but as relationship issues and past heartbreaks come to a head, she becomes a good deal more emotionally vulnerable — which I love.
While appropriate for teen readers, if you like the character age bracket of New Adult fiction, but are looking for something a bit cleaner than many of the books in that emerging and popular romance subgenre, Paige might just be the heroine for you. Twentysomethings looking for sweet New Adult romance with a tad bit of snarky humor will love the Paige Alder series and its first-person protagonist's voice.
Paige Rewritten is a fantastic follow-up to Paige Torn, and although I can't BELIEVE author Erynn Mangum left me hanging with such a triangular, boy-trouble ending — I may have shouted something like "No-no-no!" while frantically searching the final pages for something other than "about the author" — I absolutely cannot wait to see what happens between Paige, Tyler and Luke when book three, Paige Turned, releases in April.
Tainted by A.E. Rought
What it's about (courtesy of publisher Strange Chemistry):
Alex Franks believes the madness is behind them. With Ascension Labs under his direction and the forces threatening Emma's life overcome, they have a chance at a normal life, and keeping his secrets safely buried. But a shadow rises from Alex's past, and she wants him back. Criminally brilliant, Hailey Westmore will stop at nothing to claim the boy she was meant to be with.
Without warning, Emma Gentry finds she cannot trust anything. Not her mind, her memory, not even herself. Tragic events and unexpected deaths stalk Alex and Emma, testing them in ways they would never imagine, and may not survive. Alex carries a new secret, and a horrifying guilt that Hailey uses to her advantage.
Emma's life and sanity hang in the balance, and Alex may have created a monster...
Why you should read it: The continuation of A.E. Rought's Broken, a modern retelling of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, (check out my rec), Tainted is written in a freshly honed point of view, that of Alex — a cool little switch Rought deftly flipped from her book one female protagonist, Emma. Alex is a gentler soul than Emma, and that is clear in his voice, but don't let that scare you off from him as a hero. Alex is a fantastic modern knight-type whose sensitive side is his strength … and his greatest weakness. I loved Alex's voice and how easy it was to see and adore tough, ballsy Emma through his eyes.
Contrasting Alex's warmth, the story's settings are darkly vivid and unrelentingly cold, which makes the magnetic heat between Alex and Emma that much more searing. And speaking of that heat ... wowzer! Their friends might roll their eyes a bit at the off-the-charts PDA, but even they seem to understand there is something otherworldly about the magnetism that draws Alex and Emma into such close and constant physical contact.
And speaking of friends: Alex's BFF, Jason, is an awesome sidekick. As loyal friends go, Jason is the real deal — something with which Alex has limited experience, due to his past. As the devilry of his villainess ex-girlfriend, Hailey, becomes more pronounced, Alex needs Jason's solid presence by his side to help save the day — and Emma.
Delving into the monstrous implications of what we can allow ourselves to become in the name of love, Tainted is a dark, driven and delicious ride with a solid, sighworthy ending that begs you to wonder what might be lurking around the next corner.
A writer, performer and accomplished partaker of dark chocolate, Serena Chase lives in Iowa with her husband and two daughters. The first two books in her debut Eyes of E'veria series, The Ryn and The Remedy, are out now. You can find out more about her at serenachase.com.