Unblemished
by Sara Ella
Publisher: Thomas Nelson/HarperCollins
Release Date: October 11th 2016
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Eliyana has always recoiled from her own reflection in the mirror. But what if that were only one Reflection—one world? What if another world existed where her blemish could become her strength?
Eliyana is used to the shadows. With a hideous 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 as 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?
Unblemished is one of those books that I found the synopsis interesting so I was like okay, I’ll pick it up. Then was blown away by how completely it entranced me. I really loved the story and the characters. One of my favorite things about it was the love triangle, which sounds insane but it’s true!
I actually really adored the love triangle in Unblemished. That sounds crazy but it was so perfectly executed I’m not sure how to even explain it. The whole thing felt very natural and surprising at times. It had this very organic progression to it. Very much like being a teenager sometimes you fall out of love an into love with someone else and even sometimes back again. It never felt like El was leading anyone on or using either guy. Which I feel happens to often in other books.
The story is so fast paced. I was absorbed and even though I had a long work week. I was stealing moments and reading on my phone when I could. The action was non-stop, it felt like El could not get a break but it also kept it interesting. There were things I suspected but then things that I had no clue.
I also liked the world building. It takes New York and creates an alternate reflection. Which are called reflections. It was easy to picture where they were in my mind. I also felt like the callings were very interesting and well explained without going overboard. We get bits and pieces as we go so it’s not all info dumped at once.
I liked Eliyana. Sometimes I got annoyed with her, I’m like why can’t she stop be obsessed with saving her mom. Then I’m like wait I would totally be obsessed with that too. I wouldn't care what people are saying to me either. Especially because nobody was really filling her on information. Except for the person that she is supposed to not trust.
It was a great ending but also one that I’m like ohhh I want a short story or something. It’s perfect the way it is but still.
This is a definite recommended read.
Once upon a time, 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.
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