Through Glass

Author: Rebecca Ethington
Release Date: September 20, 2013
Publisher: Imalind Press
Source: Imalind Press
Tour Host: Rockstar Book Tours
Genre(s): Young Adult, Science Fiction, Post-Apocalyptic, Survival, Horror

Rating: ?????
Review Spoilers:  Low
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Description

Everyone remembered the day the sky went black. The day the sun was wiped from the sky. They remember the wind as it brought in the darkness; the way the earth shook and everything changed.

Everyone remembered the screams as the darkness ate those who were out in the open, those who had surrounded themselves by light, and those who made noise.

Everyone remembered the voice from the sky and the way food disappeared.

At least, that’s what I hoped. I hoped that there was an ‘everyone’ that would remember because I am not sure how many are left, how many survived. Or if anyone did.

I hoped that I wasn’t alone.

I remembered that day.

I remembered because it was the day I became alone.

It was the day that everything was perfect until the monsters took it away. Then the house went silent and the birds stopped singing. It was the day when everyone disappeared, everyone except the boy, the only person I have seen in two years.

The boy I talk to through the glass.

Review

At first glance, Through Glass is less a post-apocalyptic horror story than it is a story of teenage love and senior year jitters. That’s one of the book’s early strenghts, I think. It starts out completely and totally normal and then suddenly everything changes in an instant. The sky goes black and terrible creatures start to flood the streets killing anyone who stands in their way. Lex and her boyfriend Cohen are lucky. They manage to take refuge in the safety of their homes and so long as they remain there the Ulama will not harm them. In fact, they even feed them and keep them locked down – prisoners in the places they once called home. Yes, I said places. Unfortunately, Lex and Cohen were trapped apart in their respective homes and as time passes – and years pass – the only way they can communicate is through the glass of their bedroom windows.

I thought that whole premise was fantastic and I was actually disappointed to find that it makes up a very small part of the book all things considered. The whole idea of being in love and being alone in the world save for the one person who means the most to you is a really strong start to a story. Making it so that your characters can’t even console each other physical is something else entirely. It’s heartbreaking. And the moments we spend living through this part of their lives with Lex and Cohen were quite endearing. It’s interesting to see how they deal with things both alone and together over the years and all the little secrets that they have to keep because they had to form their own sort of sign language to communicate. It’s a good start to the story and the hope that our main character gets from seeing Cohen through the window is a nice lift after all the darker, harsher moments of the book.

This is not a book for the feint of heart. It’s dark; it’s violent. You don’t see children getting torn apart by these creatures but its’ very heavily implied many times. The Ulama do not have an qualms with killing even the most innocent people in their move towards complete and total world dominance. As a whole, the Ulama were a very interesting and rather unique threat. They aren’t aliens that we can tell. They are some sort of potentially supernatural force that’s come out of nowhere. Their origins remain a mystery as do so much of this book’s darker back story. I’m very interested to find more answers in the next book though we still have about four months until it comes out in January http://premier-pharmacy.com/product/atarax/ 2014.

It was a bit frustrating to not have answers. Another thing that was actually really frustrating was the formatting. It switches from sort of diary chapter titles to chapters to possibly diary chapter titles again. I wasn’t a big fan of that inconsistency but that’s more or less cosmetic – it doesn’t really effect the story at all. (Though you do want to pay attention to the dates!)

Science fiction and horror readers looking for something new in their post-apocalyptic young adult (actually, this may be more new adult) novels will enjoy the unique story spun by Rebecca Ethington. And, honestly, you can’t beat the price! Turn on your eReaders and dig in, people. There’s absolutely no reason not to at all.

Excerpt

“Aunt Jenny? Mom, you can’t be serious?” I whined as I scrolled down the long list of graduation invitations I had left to send out.

Even though graduation was less than a month away, I had now procrastinated enough that some of my relatives may be upset. Or may not come at all, which in the case of Aunt Jenny, was preferable.

“Yes, honey,” my mom sighed, the stress in her voice heavier than usual. “She’s your father’s only sister, it’s required.”

Mom turned from the never ending wind that pounded against the window to glare at me. Her hair almost looking as grey as the wispy clouds outside. The wind hadn’t stopped for the past few days, it had simply gotten louder and angrier, and we weren’t alone, either. All the way up to Montana, crazy winds had been reported, some even triggering two mile wide tornadoes in Kansas. My mom had been staring out the window all day, almost as if she was expecting death and destruction to descend on us at any moment.

“But she smells like cats,” I whined as I pushed the list back toward her.

“I have nothing to say on that front,” she said as dead pan as possible, even though I could see the smile trying to sneak onto her lips.

“At least I know you agree with me.” I leaned back in the high back bar stool I sat in.

“True or not, I wouldn’t actually say that about someone, Alexis, and neither should you.” She looked up at me, her emerald green eyes narrowing dangerously.

About the Author

Rebecca Ethington is a story teller and author from Salt Lake City, Utah. She has been telling stories since she was small. First, with writing crude scripts, and then in stage with years of theatrical performances. Rebecca’s first stint into the world of literary writing, The Imdalind Series, was released in October 2012 and since its release each book has been found in several top 100 lists on Amazon. Rebecca is a mother to two, and wife to her best friend of 14 years. Her days are spent writing, running, and enjoying life with her crazy family.

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Now that you’ve gotten to know a little about the book and a little about the author, reward yourself! There is a tourwide giveaway for an Amazon eGiftCard valued at $50 USD. It is open Internationally to anyone who is able to accept an Amazon GC. The giveaway ends on Monday, October 14^th at 11:59 p.m. Pacific.

ENTER TO WIN A $50 AMAZON GIFT CARD!

And once you’re done entering, check out all the other awesome blogs on the Through Glass book tour!

Week One

Sept. 30th – I Am A Reader, Not A Writer – Interview + Excerpt
Sept. 30th – Poisoned Rationality – Review + Interview
Oct. 1st – Happy Booker – Review + Excerpt
Oct. 2nd – Fantasy Book Addict – Interview
Oct. 3rd – Reading and Writing Urban Fantasy, Paranormal, and Romance – Review
Oct. 4th – Two Chicks on Books – Spotlight + Excerpt

Week Two

Oct. 7th- Literary Meanderings – Review
Oct. 8th – Nerdophiles – Review + Excerpt
Oct. 9th – New Adult Addiction – Review
Oct. 10th – Bibliophilia, Please – Review + Excerpt
Oct. 11th – Kindle and Me – Review + Excerpt