Thrown out of her comfort zone but with the mindset of a soldier, Riven has to learn how to be a girl in a realm that is the opposite of what she knows. Riven isn’t prepared for the beauty of a world that is unlike her own in so many ways. Nor is she prepared to feel something more than indifference for the very target she seeks. Caden is nothing like Cale, but he makes something in her come alive, igniting a spark deep down that goes against every cell in her body. For the first time in her life, Riven isn’t sure about her purpose, about her calling. Torn between duty and desire, she must decide whether Caden is simply a target or whether he is something more.
Faced with hideous reanimated Vector soldiers from her own world with agendas of their own, as well as an unexpected reunion with a sister who despises her, it is a race against time to bring Caden back to Neospes. But things aren’t always as they seem, and Riven will have to search for truth. Family betrayals and royal coups are only the tip of the iceberg. Will Riven be able to find the strength to defy her very nature? Or will she become the monstrous soldier she was designed to be?
“The Almost Girl” is a richly imagined story of defiance, courage, and heart. It is the tale of a girl who finds her own way on her own terms, a girl who won’t let what she is define her, and a girl who will sacrifice everything she is for the ones she loves. It is a story of someone who eclipses her predestined fate to become something more … something extraordinary.
Praise for Amalie Howard’s “The Almost Girl”
“A riveting union of science fiction thriller, romance, family drama, and conspiracy theory, The Almost Girl had me wishing I could crawl inside the pages and join Riven on her epic journey between parallel worlds. Amalie Howard¹s writing is sharp and smart. I¹m definitely craving the next installment!”
– Page Morgan, author of The Beautiful and The Cursed
“Amalie Howard writes a fast paced and thrilling story with a kick butt, authentic heroine and a brilliantly crafted world.”
– Eve Silver, author of Rush
“The Almost Girl is a feminist tour de force. It is filled with powerful, interesting female characters. Riven is one of my favorite fictional characters ever; she is fierce, passionate, funny and smart. This sexy, fast-paced story is impossible to put down. A must read! Fans of Divergent will love it!”
– Kim Purcell, author of Trafficked
When I first started reading the book I was like this is kind of a female Terminator. Now let me shock you and say that I have never seen the Terminator movies just know the concept. Really though it’s not the same at all it’s a lot cooler. I really liked the book and found myself falling in love with the plot and characters.
Caden and Riven. Whoo I loved their romance, like ship them kind of love. There were some scenes that I was like yes this is awesome. The bathroom one in particular….Riven was taught not to love and that it’s a weakness. Drilled into her head over and over. She’s a trained soldier so it’s cute to see her lighten up a bit with Caden. Even when she doesn’t want to. I also like the way Caden is so patient. He has his moments where he gets frustrated of course but he always comes back and they support each other even when they want to kill each other. It’s like two magnets they can’t seem to resist the pull. I love love that about them. I admit the Sci-Fi girl in me was all over this book but the romance was definitely one my favorite parts or is my favorite part.
I have a strong fascination with Alternative Universes. I’m just one of those people that say if you can’t disprove it then it’s possible. I just like the idea that there are all these threads that have different paths, different evolution. For some reason the idea clicks with me more than aliens and for a good story your options can be limitless.
There is a bit of mystery the story unravels as we go along. We don’t get everything right away even though you know there is more to the story. Riven doesn’t reveal why Caden is her target full until later in the book and even then things aren’t as they seem. It’s very intricate web of lies, political and espionage. Nobody is going to lay their cards on the table until they are ready and it’s not just Caden that seems to be in the dark. I loved how the plot develops at an adrenaline pumping pace as we spend a lot of it either hunting or being hunted.
I loved Riven, I loved Caden, I loved Shae and even June. There are more than just those characters but I just liked every character that was introduced. Even if I liked them because I wanted to slap them. Riven is definitely kick-ass and pretty fearless. She also very strategical, which is interesting to me about her. She can be fueled by rage but then she gets this calmness about her a realizes that it’s the way to win the fight. She also has major issues with emotions and expressing them, so at times she can be very awkward. Caden seems so innocent but he’s actually pretty tough. He had that perfect balance to his personality.
I really liked the ending. Although normally I might get a bit angry at it, I felt like it fit. If Riven had acted any differently she wouldn’t be her.
This book was such a fun read and I definitely recommend it.
A bookworm from the beginning, Howard grew up on a small island in the Caribbean with her nose buried in books. When she was just 13 years old, her poem “The Candle” was published in a University of Warwick journal, marking a sign of great things to come. Howard immersed herself into other cultures, globetrotting through 22 countries in North America, Europe, Asia and Australia. After moving to the United States, she earned a bachelor’s degree in international studies and French from Colby College in Maine. She also holds a certificate in French literature from the Ecole Normale Superieure in Paris, France. Traveling around the world, Howard has lent talents as a research assistant, marketing representative, freelance writer, teen speaker, blogger and global sales executive.
Howard is a recipient of a Royal Commonwealth Society award, an international youth writing competition. She is also a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.
Howard’s first book, “Bloodspell” (June 2011, Langdon Street Press) earned rave reviews and was named a Seventeen Magazine Summer Beach Read. Readers will hear more from Howard as she releases a pair of two-book series, “Waterfell” (November 2013, Harlequin TEEN) and “The Almost Girl” (January 2014, Strange Chemistry), as well as “Alpha Goddess” (March 2014, Skyhorse/Sky Pony Press) over the next two years.
Howard lives in New York with her husband, three children and one willful feline that she is convinced may have been a witch’s cat in a past life.
