Unblemished by Sara Ella

Posted by abakersp in Contemporary / 3 Comments

I have put off reading this book for a couple of months. I didn’t think it would really be my cup of tea after reading the information on it. But something kept drawing me to it. Maybe it was the cover. Maybe it was trying something new. Or maybe it was the fact that I have heard so many good things about this book I decided it was time to take the plunge. Let me say this……I am so glad I did. Now I am hooked in the storyline and can’t wait to read book two!

Purchase your copy here!

About the Book

Eliyana can’t bear to look at her own reflection. But what if that were only one Reflection—one world? What if another world exists where her blemish could become her strength?

Eliyana is used to the shadows. With a birthmark covering half her face, she just hopes to graduate high school unscathed. That is, until Joshua hops a fence and changes her perspective. No one, aside from her mother, has ever treated her like he does: normal. Maybe even beautiful. Because of Joshua, Eliyana finally begins to believe she could be loved.

But one night her mother doesn’t come home, and that’s when everything gets weird. Now Joshua is her new, and rather reluctant, legal Guardian. Add a hooded stalker and a Central Park battle to the mix and you’ve gone from weird to otherworldly.

Eliyana soon finds herself in a world much larger and more complicated than she’s ever known. A world enslaved by a powerful and vile man. And Eliyana holds the answer to defeating him. How can an ordinary girl, a blemished girl, become a savior when she can’t even save herself?

My Perspective

I found this book to be intriguing, charming, well written, exciting, different, enchanting, and very entertaining. Going in, I was unsure if I would be able to follow along with the storyline. With different Thresholds and types of characters, I felt slightly overwhelmed. But that only last about a moment. Or maybe a chapter. It really ended up being much easier than I thought. And if I can follow along, anyone can!

Sara Ella creates a world that I find myself wanting to be a part of. I wanted to be part of Eliyana’s fight and journey. I wanted to meet all the characters in person, to see if I could tell if they were good or bad. Appearances can be deceiving after all! The great thing is, I did feel as if I were there with the characters. I could see them in my mind: hiding, traveling, going through passages, talking with one another, and escaping. I became invested in these characters. In fact, I set out time for reading at a time that I don’t normally do just to see what was happening with them.

Two favorite things about this book were the mystery of Eliyana, and the sort of love triangle betweem Eliyana, Joshua and Ky. I say sort of because it wasn’t what you would typically see for yourself. You’ll have to read to understand. I’m sure there are plenty of readers who were rooting for Joshua and plenty for Ky. I’m going to have to say that my loyalty lies with Ky. He kind of reminds me of a bad boy with a soft spot for love. He has this edgy, bad boy attitude that is almost kind of swoon-worthy. He’s not arrogant, but he holds his head up high, and is not afraid of anyone. He stands his ground and is a fierce protector. He was, by far, my favorite character in this book.

I liked Eliyana as well. Here was a girl who had to learn who she was. Felt defined by a mark on her face, she feels ugly and alone. There is a scene in the book where someone tells her they he/she never saw the mark on her face, they just say her. I think we all have a mark (or something) that we are ashamed of. But the thing to remember is that people see us for who we are on the inside, and that is how beauty is defined. Not on our appearance. This was a great lesson for readers to be reminded of.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I cannot wait to dive into book two and am glad it is already released. This book has s light unresolved ending, and I need to see how it shakes out! I highly encourage you to take a look at this story. It may seem like it is a little outside of your comfort zone, but I promise you it will be worth it. I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

About the Author

Not so long ago, SARA ELLA dreamed she would marry a prince (just call her Mrs. Charming) and live in a castle (aka The Plaza Hotel). Though her fairy tale didn’t quite turn out as planned, she did work for Disney—that was an enchanted moment of its own. Now she spends her days throwing living room dance parties for her two princesses and conquering realms of her own imaginings. She believes “Happily Ever After is Never Far Away” for those who put their faith in the King of kings.

 

Check back next week for my review on book two, Unraveling.

 

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