Incarnate (Newsoul #1) by Jodi Meadows
Published: January 31, 2012 by Harper Collins
Received: review copy from NetGalleyNEWSOUL
Ana is new. For thousands of years in Range, a million souls have been reincarnated over and over, keeping their memories and experiences from previous lifetimes. When Ana was born, another soul vanished, and no one knows why.
NOSOUL
Even Ana’s own mother thinks she’s a nosoul, an omen of worse things to come, and has kept her away from society. To escape her seclusion and learn whether she’ll be reincarnated, Ana travels to the city of Heart, but its citizens are suspicious and afraid of what her presence means. When dragons and sylph attack the city, is Ana to blame?
HEART
Sam believes Ana’s new soul is good and worthwhile. When he stands up for her, their relationship blooms. But can he love someone who may live only once, and will Ana’s enemies—human and creature alike—let them be together? Ana needs to uncover the mistake that gave her someone else’s life, but will her quest threaten the peace of Heart and destroy the promise of reincarnation for all? {goodreads.com}
This debut novel written by Jodi Meadows is a well balanced mixture of dystopian meets paranormal, with a sizzling dose of romance poured in. The action starts from the first few pages and doesn't let up until you've closed the final chapter, yet leaving you with a burning for more.
In the beginning we learn that Ana is considered a newsoul, meaning she is the first of her kind. In a world full of people who have been reincarnated for thousands of years, Ana is on a mission to discover the whereabouts of her origin and what it all means. Along this journey she meets Sam, a boy who appears to be her age, yet has the experience of a soul who has lived hundreds of decades. Though Ana is reluctant, with her guard held high, something inside her tells her to trust Sam and accept his help in her quest. The two take on the city of Heart, the birthing grounds for where this all began. Inside the walls of Heart Ana begins to uncover the truth about newsouls and the harshness of what it feels like to be considered different from every other living soul.
This world that Jodi Meadows created about reincarnation fascinated me. The ability to live multiple lives over and over again, and still remembering your past life, was very intriguing. I loved the bit about soulmates as well; how true love would find each other in every new life, regardless of what body you inhabited. The relationship that slowly simmered between Ana and Sam was another favorite aspect of the story. Their connection was prominent from their first meeting, but the bond they slowly formed through trusting one another is what won me over. Sam's way with music and how he taught Ana the beauty of it captured my attention. The soft moments of almost touching, stealing glances, and heavy tension that hung in the air kept me turning the pages, eager to find that climatic moment.
I am very impressed with the writing in this debut novel. I have high hopes for this author's future work and am eager to continue this series. Though the story ended with questions hanging in the air, it does not pose a cliffhanger threat. Jodi Meadows fed my hunger just enough to be satisfied, yet left my stomach grumbling for just one more bite.
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