Blog Tour, Review & Giveaway: Jane, Unlimited by Kristin Cashore
Jane, Unlimited by Kristin Cashore was released this week and we are thrilled to be a part of the blog tour. This is one weird and wild read! You just have to experience this book for yourself! Check out my spoiler-free review below and be sure to enter the tour-wide giveaway!
Jane, Unlimited by Kristin Cashore
Category: Young Adult, Mystery, Fantasy
Publication: September 19th, 2017; Kathy Dawson Books
Purchase: Amazon
The highly anticipated standalone from the award-winning, New York Times bestselling author of the Graceling Realm series—a kaleidoscopic novel about grief, adventure, storytelling, and finding yourself in a world of seemingly infinite choices.
Jane has lived an ordinary life, raised by her aunt Magnolia—an adjunct professor and deep sea photographer. Jane counted on Magnolia to make the world feel expansive and to turn life into an adventure. But Aunt Magnolia was lost a few months ago in Antarctica on one of her expeditions.
Now, with no direction, a year out of high school, and obsessed with making umbrellas that look like her own dreams (but mostly just mourning her aunt), she is easily swept away by Kiran Thrash—a glamorous, capricious acquaintance who shows up and asks Jane to accompany her to a gala at her family’s island mansion called Tu Reviens.
Jane remembers her aunt telling her: “If anyone ever invites to you to Tu Reviens, promise me that you’ll go.” With nothing but a trunkful of umbrella parts to her name, Jane ventures out to the Thrash estate. Then her story takes a turn, or rather, five turns. What Jane doesn’t know is that Tu Reviens will offer her choices that can ultimately determine the course of her untethered life. But at Tu Reviens, every choice comes with a reward, or a price.
Review:
[book rating=3.5/5]The premise of Jane, Unlimited had me hooked. And let’s face it, Kristin Cashore is a genius, at least I think so. Part fantasy, part mystery thriller, part choose your own adventure, Jane, Unlimited starts out strong. The idea of a mystery was intriguing enough, but add in a magical element or multiple dimensions and heck yeah!
I really enjoyed Jane playing detective. All of the characters are so odd and untrustworthy. It was fun as she tried to uncover what exactly was going on, while also trying to determine who was credible and not. (Full disclosure: I trusted no one!) And the mansion itself was a character, I think. Just truly an exceptional setting. There’s also a ton of diversity amongst the cast, which is a draw for many readers.
The plot is mostly well done. I think some things were added hastily or not fully used, but for the most part it’s enjoyable. Though I admit for the entire book I had no clue what was going on! It’s confusing and odd, but brilliantly written. Cashore’s writing is nearly flawless. I must applaud her in writing such a complex story, because something of this magnitude had to be hellish to complete.
This review is probably as confusing and erratic as the story and for that I apologize. I did enjoy the story, just not as much as I’d hoped. The execution of this one just wasn’t as great as I wanted it to be. There was a lot of intrigue and build up, but ultimately, I felt the work that was spent there came without a big payoff. I think Cashore is brilliant and look forward to her future works! I do recommend everyone at least give this a try. It’s so unique that my explanations (and anyone else’s) won’t do it justice. It’s truly something you have to experience for yourself.
Author Bio: Kristin Cashore
Kristin Cashore grew up in the northeast Pennsylvania countryside as the second of four daughters. She received a bachelor’s degree from Williams College and a master’s from the Center for the Study of Children’s Literature at Simmons College, and she has worked as a dog runner, a packer in a candy factory, an editorial assistant, a legal assistant, and a freelance writer. She has lived in many places (including Sydney, New York City, Boston, London, Austin, and Jacksonville, Florida), and she currently lives in the Boston area. Her epic fantasy novels set in the Graceling Realm–Graceling, Fire, and Bitterblue–have won many awards and much high praise, including picks as ALA Best Books for Young Adults, School Library Journal Best Book of the Year, Booklist Editors Choice, and Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year. In addition, Graceling was shortlisted for the William C. Morris Debut Award and Fire is an Amelia Elizabeth Walden Book Award Winner.
Giveaway:
Enter for a chance to be one (1) of three (3) winners to receive a hardcover copy of Jane, Unlimited by Kristin Cashore. (ARV: $18.99 each).
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Enter between 12:00 AM Eastern Time on September 11, 2017 and 12:00 AM on October 9, 2017. Open to residents of the fifty United States and the District of Columbia who are 13 and older. Winners will be selected at random on or about October 11, 2017. Odds of winning depend on number of eligible entries received. Void where prohibited or restricted by law.
BLOG TOUR SCHEDULE:
I cannot wait to read this book! Thanks for the awesome giveaway!
Thanks for the review. It sounds like this author is very talented, but maybe needed to make this book longer/more in depth to make the story less confusing. I haven’t read her books yet, so I will check them out.
Sometimes I think it’s hard to write a review without giving away too much information about the book! This is one I’d like to read just to see if I’d like it.
Dianna
Sounds like a neat book to me. Also, I haven’t read this author before. Thanks!
Great review. I’ve heard lots of good things about this book. I love stories with some mystery in it.