Saturday, April 18, 2015

Review: Altar of Reality by Mara Valderran





Altar of Reality
Release Date: February 22, 2015
Publisher: Curiosity Quills Press
ISBN13:  9781620076798
Genre: Young Adult Science Fiction
Review Copy Source: NetGalley
When sixteen-year-old Madeline suffers her first grand mal seizure, she finds herself in an unfamiliar reality, surrounded by strangers wearing familiar faces. Her best friend, Brandon, tells her that the world has fallen to chaos, the aftermath of World War III ten years ago. Madeline doesn’t remember anything from this life— especially not the explosion four years ago that killed her parents and landed her in a coma, or the Lord Commander; a zealot leader of the Southern Territories now searching for her.

Madeline barely has time to process everything before waking up to the life she’s always known. As soon as she dismisses it all as a strange and vivid dream, she finds herself back there once more. Unsure if she’s truly caught in the middle of a brewing rebellion, or teetering on the brink of insanity, she finds herself flipping between the two lives. Her heart becomes torn between two versions of the same boy and the lines between her realities begin to blur as she struggles to save her lives in both worlds.

ALTAR OF REALITY was a fun read. It was very easy to follow along to and the world was interesting and engaging.

Madeline has seizures and when they happen she finds herself in an alternate world where everyone she knows is, but they have all led a very different life. I connected with Madeline's struggle to keep each world where it belonged. It's hard to see someone you love acting like a totally different person in one world then have to face them in the other. She had a hard time with that and I could totally see where her struggles were coming from.

I wasn't crazy about the whole love triangle aspect of ALTAR OF REALITY. It was awkward and I didn't think she fit with either brother. Then enters a third love interest. She seemed to like him, but I'm not sure it was genuine on his end. I don't have a huge draw to any of them.

I look forward to seeing what Madeline will do next, she has a lot of inner conflict to deal with. She has a big heart, but I don't know if that big heart will get her in trouble or lead her towards where she should be.

I gave it 4/5 stars

* This book was provided free of charge from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.