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Book Review: Auracle – Gina Rosati

Auracle
Author: Gina Rosati
Series: None
Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Fantasy
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
My Rating:

Summary:

On the surface there’s nothing special about Anna Rogan: she gets average grades, she is not especially popular, and she spends most of her time just hanging out with her best friend Rei. But Anna has a secret: she can astrally project out of her body, allowing her spirit to explore the world and the far reaches of the universe.
When there’s an accident and Anna’s classmate Taylor takes over her body, what was an exhilarating distraction from her repressive life threatens to become a permanent state. Faced with a future of never aging, never being seen or heard or touched, Anna turns to Rei for help. Now the two of them not only have to get Anna back into her body, but they also have to stop Taylor from accusing an innocent friend of being responsible for her murder.
Together Rei and Anna form a plan, but it doesn’t take into account the deeper feelings that are beginning to grow between them.

 
First Sentence: Rei Ellis whispers to me as the light goes dark.

My Review:

The cover of Auracle is simply breathtaking. Just look at it! I love the circle-shaped glows, the way the wind blows the cover model’s blond hair, her pure white dress, and the extra touch of her walking bare feet. The background also adds to the mystery. (The only thing that doesn’t make sense though is that the main character, Anna, has brown hair. Taylor is the one who has blond hair, so is that Taylor being featured on the cover?)

When I first read the blurb of Auracle and saw its stunning cover, I couldn’t wait to read it. I had first read about astral projection in Stranger with My Face by Lois Duncan and found the history of astral projection so fascinating and wanted to learn more. However, Auracle doesn’t really explore how and why Anna can astral project; she just does. I don’t understand this because if I was Anna, I would be digging around looking for why I’m the only one who can do this, but no, she just accepts it and experiments, not worried at all about the possible consequences.

My one main complaint about Auracle is the book’s pacing. It takes a couple of chapters for things to actually happen – the first five or so chapters are used to explain Anna’s life. Then there are ten pages of action, which abruptly stops and starts again in another couple of chapters. Auracle could have been easily cut in half and we readers won’t miss a thing, and that’s saying something, especially since Auracle is a very short book to start with.

There were also awkward words used that made me stop reading – blink – and think: did I read this part right? I mean, who suddenly inserts “Rawr!” and calls boobs/breasts “chichis”?

I also didn’t see the slow development of Anna and Rei’s relationship. One moment they were just best friends helping each other out, and the next moment they were kissing. I was just standing there, blinking at the page, thinking um, did I read this right?

Some things also didn’t make any sense. Why would Anna’s mother leave her daughter with her drunk alcoholic father and continually make excuses for him? It’ll make sense if Anna’s mother ditched Anna altogether and never hung out with her, but for Anna’s mother to continually visit Anna and support her while making excuses for Anna’s father just doesn’t make any sense. Why won’t Anna’s mother just win custody of Anna so she won’t have to worry about Anna living with her father? The worse part is that we never get any answers.

The main thing I have to say is this: don’t be fooled by the cover. Auracle is a decent book to read, but isn’t memorable.

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-Kelly

Posted by Kelly on 12-09-12 · 25 Comments
Categories: 2012 book, book review Tagged: 3 star

« Stacking the Shelves [10]
Waiting On Wednesday [9] »

Speak Your Mind

  1. Christine says

    3-09-13 at 12:47 AM

    I felt the exact same way about this book. The pacing was just all over the place, like you said–really slow in the beginning (it was almost a DNF for me while I was trying to get through the beginning) and then the relationship between Anna and Rei felt like it was in fast-forward! Very strange, but it was a good concept overall, just a lot of holes.

    Reply
    • Kelly says

      7-16-13 at 6:13 PM

      I’m glad you agree with all the points I made Christine. It looks like other people enjoyed Auracle a lot more than we both did. o:
      Kelly recently posted…New Blog Design + A GiveawayMy Profile

      Reply
  2. Jaime Lester says

    7-07-13 at 11:52 PM

    I didn’t dislike this story, but I did not love it either. Like you, I had a problem with the pacing. It was never very smooth. And the story itself, while cute, was almost too cutesy, even with the subject matter. All in all, it wasn’t bad but it wasn’t perfect either. I would definitely give the author another shot, though. And you are absolutely right about the cover. Stunning! My fave part is her feet not touching the ground!

    Reply
    • Kelly says

      7-10-13 at 4:50 PM

      Mhm, the book was a little too cute to be serious, especially since the situation Anna faced is definitely a very serious thing.
      And that shade of blue! I can stare at the cover all day. <3
      Kelly recently posted…ARC Book Review: This Song Will Save Your Life – Leila SalesMy Profile

      Reply
  3. bn100 says

    7-11-13 at 12:09 AM

    Good to know about the pacing

    Reply
    • Kelly says

      7-12-13 at 9:09 PM

      Mhm.
      Kelly recently posted…Let’s Speculate: How Setting Causes A Reading SlumpMy Profile

      Reply
  4. Rachel says

    7-15-13 at 9:54 PM

    I wanted to read this just for the beautiful cover, but it sounds like I would have been a little disappointed. And I have a major problem with books with bad pacing. Those types of books are the ones I take months to read, because there is nothing going on in the book that makes me want to pick it back up, and usually only finish it to get it off of my currently reading list on goodreads. Glad I saw this review!

    Reply
    • Kelly says

      7-16-13 at 6:15 PM

      I only wanted to read Auracle because of its beautiful cover too and boy, do I regret that.
      I’m glad my review helped you Rachel! (:
      Kelly recently posted…New Blog Design + A GiveawayMy Profile

      Reply
  5. Maida @ Literary Love Affair says

    7-17-13 at 11:08 PM

    This sounds really intriguing and I agree the cover is gorgeous! Although, I am sorry to hear about the pacing and the relationship. I’m not sure I’ll pick it up. Overall, it sounds disappointing.

    Thanks for the honest review!

    ~ Maida
    Literary Love Affair 
    Maida @ Literary Love Affair recently posted…Waiting on Wednesday (32)My Profile

    Reply
    • Kelly says

      7-18-13 at 8:31 PM

      Yeah, sadly, the cover is gorgeous, but the book doesn’t live up to its gorgeous cover. :l
      Kelly recently posted…ARC Book Review: Dirty Little Secret – Jennifer EcholsMy Profile

      Reply
  6. Elee says

    8-13-13 at 4:06 AM

    Well, i’ve felt like this too, i just interested with the cover but then the story is, umm, totally boring and disappointing. Thanks for the review, very honest;)

    Reply
    • Kelly says

      8-14-13 at 8:43 PM

      I’m always honest in my reviews. ;D
      Kelly recently posted…Book Review: Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea – April Genevieve TucholkeMy Profile

      Reply
  7. Fatma Shahin says

    8-16-13 at 5:34 PM

    too bad the book wasn’t that good :( the cover really is gorgeous! Also, the title is very intriguing to me. :)

    Reply
    • Kelly says

      8-17-13 at 11:02 AM

      Yeah, books with gorgeous covers are almost always disappointing. ):
      Kelly recently posted…Stacking the Shelves [46]My Profile

      Reply
  8. Jay @Vailia's Page Turner says

    8-24-13 at 5:12 PM

    I agree about the cover. I love it! sad that it sounds like the book doesn’t make the beauty of the cover.
    Jay @Vailia’s Page Turner recently posted…Stacking the Shelves 20My Profile

    Reply
    • Kelly says

      8-25-13 at 6:19 PM

      Yeah, I hate cover fraud. Luckily I didn’t buy the book or else I’ll be even MORE disappointed. ):
      Kelly recently posted…Stacking the Shelves [47]My Profile

      Reply
  9. Susan T. says

    9-25-13 at 2:59 PM

    That’s really too bad because the idea of astral projection is a pretty cool one for a novel.

    Reply
    • Kelly says

      9-25-13 at 9:49 PM

      I know! Such a great premise, but the book didn’t do it justice. D:
      Kelly recently posted…Teen Thrill Book SigningMy Profile

      Reply
  10. HIllary R. says

    10-02-13 at 8:13 PM

    The cover of Auracle is so pretty! I think I need to read this one! (no matter whether the TBR list grows or not). I can’t believe I’ve never heard of this one before. Thanks for writing a review on this one :D

    Reply
    • Kelly says

      10-05-13 at 9:05 PM

      It is! I can fangirl all over the cover every time I see it.
      Just a warning though: In my opinion, the inside of Auracle isn’t as good as the outside cover.
      Kelly recently posted…Stacking the Shelves [52]My Profile

      Reply
  11. sarah c. says

    10-12-13 at 7:08 PM

    great review!! this book sounds interesting!!

    Reply
    • Kelly says

      10-12-13 at 7:56 PM

      Thanks Sarah! (:
      Ha ha, it does, but too bad the actual book wasn’t as good as the premise of the book. ):
      Kelly recently posted…Stacking the Shelves [53]My Profile

      Reply
  12. Cali W. says

    10-22-13 at 10:37 PM

    Great review! I really like the cover and astral projection sounds interesting. <3

    Reply
  13. Joanna V says

    11-13-13 at 7:16 PM

    I just won a copy of this book o.o
    Suddenly I’m not too excited to read it. Agh xD
    Thanks for the review though. I’ll keep my expectations low so maybe I’ll actually like it(:
    Joanna V recently posted…It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?My Profile

    Reply
  14. Vivien says

    12-07-13 at 6:43 PM

    I still need to read this one. So behind! I’ve come across a lot of reviews similar to yours. And yet, I do want to give it a try. Good thing it’s on my shelf.

    Reply

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